The essentials in 30 seconds
- What's new: New York bodega and grocery groups renewed their push for wine sales on October 14.
- The proposal: Assembly bill A9284 and Senate bill S9032 would let grocery stores apply for wine and liquor licenses.
- Status: both bills remain in committee. No new sales right has taken effect.
- Wine angle: supporters see a possible new retail channel for New York producers; independent liquor stores oppose the change.
New York City bodega owners and supermarket groups renewed a campaign on October 14 to let food stores sell wine and liquor. Assemblymember Amanda Septimo joined supporters in the Bronx, according to local reporting. The proposal matters to wine shoppers and New York wineries, but the law has not changed.
What would the New York proposal change?
Assembly bill A9284 would allow a grocery store to apply for a license to sell wine or liquor for consumption off the premises. Its companion, Senate bill S9032, explicitly says the proposed grocery store category includes bodegas. An application would still be required: the bill does not say every store could start selling wine automatically.
The New York State Senate's legislative record showed A9284 in the Assembly Economic Development Committee and S9032 in the Senate Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business Committee when we checked on October 15. Neither had passed. If you buy wine in New York today, this campaign has not changed the rules at your neighborhood store.
Why did the issue return this week?
At the October 14 event, supporters argued that small food retailers should be able to offer more products. ABC7 New York reported that representatives of the National Supermarket Association joined bodega owners in the Bronx. NBC New York reported that Septimo was open to narrowing the effort to wine alone, although the current bill text includes both wine and liquor.
Independent liquor store owners oppose wider sales, saying it could hurt their businesses, according to ABC7. Supporters argue that wider distribution could create opportunities for New York wineries. That is their case for the bill, not an established forecast of sales or prices.
What should wine buyers watch next?
The next meaningful step is movement on the bills in Albany, such as a committee vote or revised text. A public campaign alone does not create a license. Any change to eligibility, the permitted products or store conditions needs to appear in the legislative record before shoppers can rely on it. For now, check the official bill pages rather than assuming the proposal is already in force.
Photo: a bodega on 2nd Avenue in Albany, New York, photographed in 2021. This store is an illustration of the type of retailer discussed, not a participant in the October 14 event. Tyler A. McNeil, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Sources: NBC New York, October 15 report; ABC7 New York, October 14 report; New York State Assembly bill A9284; New York State Senate bill S9032. Checked on October 15, 2026.
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