Although the alcohol laws of New York are among the most lenient of any state in the Atlantic Northeast of the United States, they are still quite a bit more restrictive than those of Louisiana, Missouri, Nevada, Illinois, New Mexico, and Arizona.
In New York there are only four hours per day in which alcohol may not be served: 4:00 a.m. To 8:00 a.m. This was designed to accommodate New York City nightlife as well as late night workers in general.
New York State has no law against being drunk in public, but it is illegal to have an open container of alcohol on a public sidewalk, road or park in New York State. Drinking in public was first outlawed in New York City by Ed Koch in 1979.
The original intent of this law was actually to prevent antisocial derelicts and homeless people from congregating in parks and on sidewalks. Frederick E. Samuel, one of the supporters of this law on the New York City Council, stated "We do not recklessly expect the police to give a summons to a Com Ed worker having a beer with his lunch."
The legal drinking age in New York State is 21 and the maximum blood alcohol level for driving is 0.08%. There is a "zero tolerance" policy for persons under 21 caught drinking and driving.
