No Booze Unless Food Served At New York Restaurants, Bars: Cuomo

LONG ISLAND, NY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo said state officials are ramping up enforcement of coronavirus regulations at bars and restaurants amid a lack of compliance. Beginning Thursday, no drinking will be allowed at those establishments unless patrons are seated at tables spaced 6 feet apart and ordering food. And no walk-up bar service will be allowed.

In New York City, there will be a "three strikes and you are closed for business" policy, Cuomo said during a news briefing Thursday. Egregious violations could mean an immediate loss of a liquor license for an establishment, and the names of offending businesses will be posted, Cuomo said.

Bars and restaurants are the primary area where there have been problems with compliance with coronavirus regulations in the state, Cuomo said. Officials reviewed 5,000 establishments downstate and found "many" cases of business owners failing to comply with regulations, Cuomo said, adding their actions were "selfish, unacceptable and illegal."

Cuomo said there's concern of a "man-made" second wave of the coronavirus in New York coming from the West.

"This is a situation where we just failed to learn the lessons of the first wave," Cuomo said. "Our numbers are good, but what we are looking at is a potential second wave coming from these other states."

Also, indoor cultural institutions will remain closed in New York City even if the area goes into phase 4 on Monday, Cuomo said. The phase 4 announcement will be made by 4 p.m. Friday; no additional indoor activities will be allowed.