Last week, the New York State Liquor Authority announced a rule that food service establishments licensed to sell alcohol could no longer advertise any music offered during the dining experience, in a rule absurd enough to surely have been drafted by Governor Andrew Cuomo himself. This rule, which also bans tickets or admission charges to food service establishments, is a clear violation of the First Amendment rights of the state’s liquor licensees.
By and large, the food service industry has done its best to comply with each and every rule and request of the Governor and his agencies in order to provide a safe environment for the public. However, the industry has received no financial support from the state, and the cost of complying with rules that change on a near daily basis is destroying the industry. It is predicted that 1 in 3 food service establishments in the state will never reopen as a result. When all establishments are requiring seated table service, limited capacities, and social distancing, announcing the music selection or having a cover charge simply does not contribute to the spread of coronavirus.
I’m pleased to note that I now represent the New York Independent Venue Association and 9 of its members across the state in taking the New York State Liquor Authority to court over the matter. Case No. 20-CV-6870 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
NYIVA v. Bradley – Complaint (.pdf)
Professional Troublemaker ® 
So if you want to play music or have a band playing, you can’t advertise what kind of music it will be or the name of the band, since that would reveal what type of music they will be playing. This is stupid. Can I get a Amen to this??
Reminds me of Jerry Clower. Go get ’em Jon.
Charging a cover charge won’t make dining any more dangerous. However, it certainly sounds like they’re trying to pretend a concert is dining.
Except they are already required to have all patrons seated at tables and ordering a meal.
We’ve surrendered freedoms to tinpot governors. We may never recover them.
It’s a pity you have to fight this in the SDNY because it is one of the most corrupt jurisdictions in the ostensibly free world. I recently watched Barnes and Frei (two unaffiliated ‘tuber lawyers who are friends on YouTube) tore a strip up one side and down the other. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PsqpghrEOo