#‘Emperor’ Andrew Cuomo’s insane ‘eat if you’re drinking at a bar’ order

If you had any doubts that power has gone to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s head, his order that everyone has to eat when drinking at a New York bar should resolve the issue.

He theoretically has the power, since the Legislature basically made him a dictator for the duration of the pandemic with its grant of emergency powers before it fled Albany in early March. But it’s one thing to issue an order — another to make it stick.

Nonetheless, His Royal Highness Andrew I insists that New Yorkers at a restaurant or bar must order food, not just drink.

The rule applies statewide, but it’s Gotham that’s got his goat, as city residents have shown “significant evidence of failure to comply” with his previous orders, he claims.

“The concept here was bars and restaurants would be allowed to do outdoor dining. That is a dining situation. You go with several people, you sit at a table and you have a meal,” Cuomo said Thursday. “If you’re not eating a meal, and you’re just drinking, then it’s just an outdoor bar and people are mingling and they’re not isolated.”

So what? There’s no science here: The virus is no more likely to spread among people who are just drinking, rather than drinking and sharing some nachos. It’s pure, puritanical preference on the gov’s part.

Has Cuomo gotten off his throne and spent any time with the peasants since outdoor dining started June 22? Plenty of people have had drinks sitting down at tables, not “mingling” without masks — and insisting you order food will only make it more likely you get drinks to-go rather than sit down.

The royal decree took effect Friday, amidst mixed messages from the palace. Thursday, the emperor said establishments couldn’t just serve a bag of potato chips to kosherize their drinks — it had to be closer to a meal. The next day, Cuomo minion Rich Azzopardi nonetheless said a $1 order of “Cuomo Chips” (as one punchy pub started offering) is “consistent with the guidance — but you have to be seated.”

Coronavirus cases continue to drop in the state, with the number of people hospitalized on Friday hitting its lowest mark since March 18. Not even 1 percent of COVID-19 tests are coming back positive.

But the economy is still stung, with a 15.7 percent unemployment rate last month — 20.4 percent in the Big Apple. Focus your royal eyes on that, governor.