#New York suspends nearly 100 liquor licenses for COVID-19 violations

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Nello in Manhattan is among the restaurants whose liquor license was suspended by the state.
Seth Gottfried

ALBANY — Nearly 100 New York bars and restaurants have had their liquor licenses suspended during the coronavirus pandemic for violating social distancing and other COVID-19-related restrictions, according to new state data released Tuesday.

State Liquor Authority inspectors yanked 11 additional licenses from offending businesses Monday night for a total of 95 statewide, after conducting over 900 compliance checks and issuing 27 more violations.

The latest tally includes eight establishments within the five boroughs — including three in The Bronx, two in Brooklyn and Manhattan and one in Queens.

Seven venues have since had their licenses reinstated, records show.

Businesses found guilty by the SLA face a maximum $10,000 fine.

Inspectors have been upping their visits, especially in the Big Apple and on Long Island, as all regions have now entered the final phases of COVID-19 reopening plans.

New York City, however, is still limited to outdoor dining service only, with no indication of when restrictions will be lifted, despite all other regions, including Long Island and upstate, allowing patrons to eat indoors.

A new survey released by the NYC Hospitality Alliance on Monday revealed 83 percent of eateries and watering holes in the five boroughs are unable to pay their full July rents, with 37 percent saying they cannot pay at all.

A total of 612 charges against business have been filed and processed since the pandemic’s start, per the SLA.