Who We Are

The New York State Association of Beverage Centers (NYSABC) represents the interests of beverage discount centers from Montauk to Buffalo.

NYSABC members hold New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) C Licenses, wholesale beer licenses with off-premises retail privileges. The C license was grandfathered in when New York State’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Law was overhauled in the 1960s to create separate wholesale and retail license categories. No new C licenses can be issued, and the license dies if it expires or is revoked. We sell beer, soda, wine coolers, water and sports drinks at wholesale and retail, and candy, snack foods and seasonal specialty items (like BBQ and picnic supplies, propane and firewood) at retail.

C Licenses are typically multi-generational, family-owned businesses which are heavily involved in the local communities we serve. Our stores usually occupy comparatively large spaces, and serve retail consumers and small wholesale accounts (taverns, bodegas, social clubs, volunteer fire companies, fraternal organizations). For the last 30+ years, C Licensees have also been an essential force in protecting the environment, doing the heavy lifting of container redemption, helping keep beverage containers off our roadsides, out of landfills and into recycling. There are approximately 300 active C-License businesses in New York. C Licenses sell 35% of the beer in the New York City metropolitan area, 30% statewide. Of all SLA license categories, Cs have by far the lowest incidence of underage sales and other SLA and environmental violations.

NYSABC Leadership

Henry Kane, Director
Bay Shore Beer, Bay Shore

Neil Kavanaugh, Director
Consumers Beverage, Buffalo

Jared Kane, Director
Liberty Beverage, East Meadow

Ken Rosenblum, Esq., Director and Counsel
Rockville Centre