The Niagara region has 8-10% Canadian visitors. The Thousand Islands have 15-30% Canadian visitors. In the Finger Lakes, Canadians only account for 4-...
Operating a brewery & winery on the same site
For many wineries and breweries, there is a desire to expand into the related business category to offer a more well-rounded product menu to customers...
Delayed liquor license applications caused by existing license
You’ve decided to buy a bar or restaurant. You’ve spent hours and hours putting together an excellent liquor license application packet (or even j...
Employee or Contractor?
The IRS has 20 factors in its test to determine if a worker is an employee or independent contractor. IRS warns that not all factors are considered in...
Participating in Wine & Beer Festivals
There are so many wine and beer festivals. Is it worth participating? How do you decide? Based on the experience of other wineries, we have some creat...
Are internet sales platforms for alcohol illegal?
The most basic principle behind liquor licensing laws is that it is illegal to sell alcohol without the proper license(s). Once upon a time, this conc...
“Emergency suspension” of liquor license
A review of 2012 emergency suspension orders of retailer licenses by New York SLA and the first ever wholesaler suspension by New York In 2012, there ...
5 factors for defining your winery’s brand
One of my practice areas focuses on branding for wineries. A typical New York winery is operated as a labor of love and the owners rarely have industr...
Changing locations? What you should know about transferring and storing your liquor stock.
When you want to change locations of your bar, restaurant, liquor store or the like, you must request permission from the SLA through a Petition to Re...
How vineyards can work around 2013 tax challenges
With the end of 2013 drawing near, businesses and government agencies are buzzing about the “fiscal cliff” we are facing. The term refers to the f...