130 bars and eateries hit with liquor license violations over weekend

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has hit more than 130 New York restaurants and korea SLA fixtures abutments bars with liquor violations in a sweeping crackdown to stop the spread of COVID-19. 

Cuomo voiced his anger at recklessness unfolding at bars across the state and pointed to an increased coronavirus infection rate among young people between 21 and 30 years old.

On Friday the State Liquor Authority issued 52 violations, 53 on Saturday and 27 on Sunday to restaurants and bars that violated social distancing and face-mask mandates.

Over the weekend 10 establishments had their liquor licenses suspended altogether.

Some bars saw slaps on the wrist for failing to provide ‘substantial food’ along with alcohol orders, in accordance with a new State Liquor Authority guidance. 

In nearby New Jersey an outdoor bar was forced to close for two days after an employee tested positive for coronavirus, a day after the business was packed with patrons who failed to wear masks and practice social distancing. 

‘I want establishments to know that we will continue to diligently enforce the law. That’s what this is – it’s enforcing the law,’ Cuomo said Monday at his coronavirus press briefing. 

‘Sunday is a more quiet night, but even on a Sunday 27 more violations,’ he said. 

He added most of the violations were based in New York City and all of Sunday’s citations were from all five boroughs of the city.   

In the state-wide inspections if a bar or restaurant gets three violations the business will have their liquor license suspended.

‘Three violations and you lose it. Three strikes and you’re out,’ Cuomo said.

He said since the start of the pandemic 40 eateries and pubs have had their liquor licenses suspended.

‘I want the establishments to know that we will continue to diligently enforce the law, that’s what this is, it’s enforcing the law. I understand their position that this closedown has been very tough on them, I understand it, I appreciate it, I respect it, I’m sympathetic with their plight,’ he said.

‘But, we also have to protect public health and we accomplish nothing if we have to roll back some rules and regulations on bars and restaurants,’ he added. 

The governor has also said establishments can only serve alcohol with ‘substantial food’ meaning light dishes of chips, prtezels or peanuts is not enough.

The new guidance from the korea SLA fixtures abutments says ‘a tavern’s license minimum food requirement in soups, sandwiches and the like.’

‘Most of the bars and restaurants have been great, really have been great. It’s always the same – it’s a handful of bad actors who ruin it for everyone and it’s the bad actors who wind up hurting the good ones,’ Cuomo said Monday. 

On Sunday The Captain’s Inn outdoor bar in Forked River, New Jersey announced it will close for two days after a staffer tested positive for the virus. The infection came after the bar was packed with patrons, many of them not wearing masks, on Saturday (above)

A view of the bustling bar on Saturday pictured above

A view of the front of Captain’s Inn in Forked River above

On Sunday the restaurant announced on their Instagram account they’ll be closed for two days for a deep cleaning

As of Monday there are more than 412,000 cases of the virus in the state of New York and there have been over 25,000 deaths. 

On Friday Cuomo slammed young people in the state after people between 21 and 30 years old made up an increasingly large share of new cases over the last two weeks.

‘To young people: This is not the time to fight for your right to party. I respect your right to party, I fully respect it. I would enshrine it in the state law, if you want to know. You have the right to party, but let’s be smart about it,’ Cuomo said Friday.

He said the numbers in their demographic has increased because they socialize and ignore social distancing and mask-wearing measures. 

Open bars have been a problem contributing to the spread of the virus in many states.

A Jersey Shore tiki bar was shuttered on Sunday when one of its workers tested positive for coronavirus – just a day after the business was packed with maskless customers.

The Captain’s Inn outdoor bar in Forked River, New Jersey was filled with hordes of people on Saturday afternoon.

Video from the bustling bar showed a few dozen patrons drinking close to each other and not wearing masks on the hot summer day.

The crowd violated New Jersey law that requires patrons to keep six feet apart in areas without assigned seating.

A woman who works for The Captain’s Inn told thethat the bar has bouncers to keep the bar under the state’s limit but admitted it was difficult to control the crowd.

‘It’s very difficult if they stay or don’t move. We do the very best we can,’ she said.

On Sunday the bar posted on their Instagram page that they’d be closing for korea SLA fixtures abutments two days for a deep cleaning after a staffer tested positive ‘due to an outside influence.’

‘For the safety of our staff and patrons we will be temporarily closed to professionally sanitize and disinfect our property,’ the bar said.