'Survive on spirits alone:' Liquor store owner decries move to sell wine in grocery stores

Rafael Pignataro was recently interviewed by WROC-TV in Rochester regarding potential changes to New York State’s Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Law.

In her 2023 Budget, Governor Hochul created a special Commission to Study Reform of the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Law to decide the advisability of potential legislative amendments to the nearly 90-year-old ABC Law. Included in the potential amendments are changes to permissible hours of operation for liquor stores, allowing individuals to own more than one liquor store, and perhaps the hottest topic, allowing grocery stores to sell wine and liquor.

WROC-TV spoke to a liquor store owner about that proposal, as Ralph weighed-in on the state’s liquor laws.