Bar in New York treated guests to cocktails for 25 cents, but state officials said such large discounts are illegal

The long arm of the law doesn't like discounted signature cocktails. Even if they are helping restaurants get their business back on track during the January downturn. On Jan. 19, the State Liquor Authority issued a warning to Anton's bar in the West Village, reports New York Post.

The bar drew crowds, as well as a column in Side Dish magazine last week with 25-cent martinis and a Manhattan cocktail. It turns out that the sale of specialty drinks was against a state law that prohibits discounts of more than 50% off regular prices.

This meant that the discount, which bar was offered at lunchtime this month from Wednesday to Friday, was effectively illegal, it's gone.

“The place was packed. It blew up the internet,” said Marie Assante, a food evangelist who dined at Anton's on Jan. 20.

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The SLA does not accuse the bar of the violation, but issued a warning, an SLA spokesman told Side Dish. Since 2018, the SLA has filed 19 charges for violating a rule that prohibits charging less than half the normal fee. The agency also prohibits offering unlimited drinks.

New Orleans is doing the same thing.

Some laws regarding spirits the state has softened during the pandemic. Takeaway drinks, for example. This rule, according to New York Governor Kathy Hokul, she wants to make permanent. They still have strict rules on the sale of alcohol.

Nick Anderer, co-owner of Anton's, did not comment on the situation. But his Instagram post confirmed that the state had intervened in the bar's 25 cent offer. The offer was approved by a group of establishments in New Orleans who supported their business with similar promotions.

“Due to an obscure New York State liquor law that we were completely unaware of and received no warning or notice about, we can no longer offer 25-cent martinis and Manhattans,” Anderer said.

New price for martinis and Manhattan: $9 at lunchtime.

“Obviously, the 'special' spirits/wine prices cannot be lower than 50% of the establishment's regular prices,” Anderer explained. – Wish us the best of luck as we deal with the SLA pending... and please don't cancel booking for lunch…!"

Morgan Raum, head of membership at Lox Club, a dating app based on Jewish culture, celebrated her 25th birthday at Anton's with three colleagues last week. She was attracted by the now-banned drink promotion.

The opinion of visitors and specialists

“It was a 10 minute walk from our office in the Meatpacking area, we wanted to try a martini and thought it was a great excuse. Each of the guests ordered one glass, - she said. - The action acted on him. I have never been to this restaurant before and probably never would have gone if I hadn't heard about the offer. Now I want to live in the West Village!” She currently resides on the Upper East Side.

Raum said she was shocked that the SLA banned martini discounts.

“It's terrible,” she said. "That doesn't seem fair at all."

Andrew Righi, chief executive of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, says he cannot comment on individual cases. However, he said, “Many of the state's liquor laws are from early post-prohibition times. They should definitely be reviewed to determine their relevance in 2022. It should be taken into account that the restaurants and bars of our city are going through a crisis and are struggling to recover.”

Robert Bookman, partner at alcohol law firm Pesetsky & Bookman, explains how he sees the logic behind the SLA: “Behind the law is good public policy, and that is moderation. They don't want 10 cent sips and people who get drunk. But the purpose of the law is to enforce restrictions. This should not be punished," Bookman said. He added that restaurants with a clean reputation could be given a warning the first time, but not fined.

However, he added, “expanding the law because of COVID is not an argument.”

Other restaurateurs are looking for workarounds

Other restaurateurs point out that alcohol and food promotions can be combined.

“This is a workaround,” said an insider who did not want to be named for fear of retribution from the SLA. You can run specials like a $12 martini with a dozen oysters for free, but not the other way around. This is absurd. They may torment people, such as coming and checking your drinks to make sure you don't dilute the alcohol. You just have to outsmart them."

The SLA's actions have also been criticized by some other restaurateurs, such as James Mallios of Amalie on the Upper East Side, who is also a restaurant lawyer.