NYC Got Even Boozier During Coronavirus Pandemic, Data Shows

NEW YORK CITY — A cocktail of new and remixed concepts flooded New York City's already sodden drinking scene during the coronavirus crisis: to-go drinks, "Cuomo chips," outdoor dining and capacity limits.

Now, as restrictions ease, it's an open question whether the city's pre-pandemic alcohol norms will return. Restaurateurs like Melba Wilson, owner of Melba's Restaurant in Harlem and president of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, are pushing lawmakers to keep rules like "to-go" cocktails and allowing eateries to serve alcohol with outdoor dining.

"Outdoor dining is not going to help my small business or any other small business if we're not able to sell and serve a glass of wine outdoors," Wilson said at a recent news conference.

But, as a not-so-wise man once said, alcohol is both the cause of and solution to all of life's problems.

Just as restaurant and bar owners took advantage of relaxed liquor laws to keep their establishments afloat amid lockdowns and restrictions, everyday New Yorkers desperate for an escape arguably pushed things a bit too far.

Drinking in public complaints doubled in 2020 from the year before, according to a new Patch analysis of 311 data.

Here's how much New Yorkers raised a stink to their neighbors raising a glass during the pandemic.

Complaints spiked amid lockdown

New Yorkers won't be shocked that drinking in public wasn't uncommon pre-pandemic.

Many Patch readers — or their friends — likely have shelled out the $25 ticket for the violation known variously as "Consumption of Alcohol on Streets Prohibited," "Open Container Violation" or "Consumption of Alcohol in Public."

Complaints to 311 about drinking in public numbered 1,197 in 2019, according to data.

But then the coronavirus struck the city.

After a lull in March and April 2020 when most of New York City stayed indoors under strict lockdown and fear, complaints shot up. June 2020 alone had 473 drinking in public complaints — a third of all the previous year's.

The summer spike in public drinking dropped as weather became cooler in October, but remained above 2019 levels.

All told, there were 2,443 drinking in public complaints during 2020, according to data.

Complaints for this year are already outpacing 2019, the last pre-pandemic year.

March this year, for example, had 109 complaints, according to data. March 2019 had 31 complaints.

April 2021's 147 complaints are nearly double the same month from 2019, data shows.

During the boozy 2020, three boroughs ran roughly neck-and-neck for the most complaints: the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens.

Ultimately, Queens outpaced — or out drank — its neighbors with 716 complaints, according to data.

Patch writer Jeff Arnold contributed to this report.