The State Liquor Authority has temporarily suspended liquor licenses for three Queens restaurants and bars: the Brik and MIA in Astoria, and Maspeth Pizza in Maspeth, after a weekend of noisy outdoor parties in front of establishments despite COVID-19 crowd restrictions, AMNY reports.
According to the report, all three companies had their liquor licenses suspended from July 21 for an indefinite period of time. New York had already revoked Brik’s street seating permit for a week after the bar failed to enforce social distancing measures over the weekend.
A fourth business, the Secrets Gentlemen’s Club in Deer Park on Long Island, also had its liquor license temporarily suspended this week for violations of social alienation.
New York council member Costa Constantinides, who represents Astoria, is also asking the SLA to suspend the liquor license from another restaurant: Melody Cafe and Restaurant, a neighborhood hookah bar and lounge. Constantinides says that “location has become problematic for neighbors in terms of noise and large crowds that ignore social distancing rules,” according to a Post LIC report.
Governor Andrew Cuomo has repeatedly warned of crackdown on New York bars and restaurants that they are not enforcing the state’s social distancing regulations. White Horse Tavern in West Village was the first New York bar to temporarily lose its liquor license after the SLA reported more than 30 on-site social distancing violations, including the sale of alcohol without food and the installation of seating in the outdoor patio before it was legally allowed.
On Monday, Cuomo again warned at a press conference that the state could reverse New York’s reopening plan as people congregate in large crowds outside of the city’s restaurants and bars.
