Restaurants Could Sell Ny Made Soju According To Larkin Bill

The State Senate today passed legislation sponsored by Senator Bill Larkin (R-C, Cornwall-on-Hudson) that would allow vendors who sell wine to also sell a beverage called Soju. Soju is an alcoholic beverage made exclusively in Korea with an alcohol content of no more than 24 percent.

In addition, the Larkin bill (S.6259) would allow vendors to sell other alcohol beverages with low-to-medium alcohol content that are made from agricultural products grown and produced in New York State that have an alcohol content of no more than 24 percent.

Under current law, a New York restaurant or other eating establishment that has a license to sell wine, port or sherry for consumption on its premises can also sell beer and Soju. However, the only Soju that can be sold for consumption on the premises in New York State is Soju that is imported from Korea and has an alcohol content of 24 percent or less.

"New York restaurants should be able to sell a variety of lower content alcoholic beverages, especially those that are manufactured here in New York," said Senator Larkin. "The law should be revised so that New York farmers have the same ability to sell their products to New York restaurants as do Korean farmers who market their products to us. This bill merely gives New York farmers and producers of alcoholic beverages parity with Korean farmers who make the same exact products."