NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — The New York State Liquor Authority on Friday drew another blow to the bar and restaurant industry, banning any live show or event that would be considered an attraction and draw a crowd.
Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the authority has banned any event that would draw a large amount of people to one area, this includes, but is not limited to: outdoor karaoke, comedy shows, special entertainment and live music performances.
Performances could still happen, but the authority said they must be no more than incidental to the food.
The ruling was a huge blow to the restaurant and bar industry, especially in upstate New York, who had already planned several outdoor events in hopes of generating income to help recover from the money lost during the pandemic shutdown.
The state's Restaurant Association spokesperson Melissa Fleischut says business owners are now rushing to adjust.
"Some had already planned events like this,” she said. ”So they're scrambling a little bit to come into compliance with this new language.”
She adds that restaurants across the state are having a hard time, and they need something that can help them survive.
“A surveyed 90% said that they will not be profitable in the next six months without some sort of government assistance coming in to help them,” Fleischut explains.
Many businesses also won’t be able to survive when the weather turns cold and there either limited seating indoors or no seating at all.
The news came on the same day that 100 New York City restaurants banded together to form a class action lawsuit against the city and state if indoor dining is not permitted in the five boroughs soon.