Moreland Commission on the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law

Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller appointed this commission on February 15, 1963 following recurring charges of corruption in enforcement of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law lodged against several members of the State Liquor Authority. Critics charged, for instance, that although competition for the limited allowed number of liquor store locations was intense, there was no standard for selecting who was chosen to get a site, encouraging favoritism and bribery in the awarding of locations. Governor Rockefeller directed the commission to study and evaluate laws regarding the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages in New York State and to propose any necessary revisions in the law. Under the direction of Chairman Lawrence E. Walsh, a former federal judge, the commission hired lawyers and economists and contracted with others to conduct studies; conferred with present and past chairs of the State Liquor Authority; conferred with members of the Joint Legislative Committee to Study the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law; received comments from liquor trade associations, police departments, and other interested parties; issued several reports, e.g. "The Licensing and Regulation of Retail Package Liquor Stores", "The Food Requirements in Bars and Grills", and "Mandatory Resale Price Maintenance;" and held public hearings to discuss issues raised in the commission's reports and studies. Upon concluding its investigation, the commission made a number of recommendations, including: eliminating the law under which distillers fix minimum prices on liquor in New York State; revising the law to permit open competition in the number, location, and type of liquor stores; allowing packaged liquor sales in shopping centers and chain stores; creating tavern-type liquor licenses for bars and grills with much more lenient or no requirement for the serving of food; and licensing persons, not sites, and granting licenses to all qualified applicants. The regular legislative session adjourned on March 27, 1964 with none of the proposed legislation having been passed. As a result, Governor Rockefeller called the legislature back for a special session beginning April 15, and significant legislative reforms were enacted at this session.