Effective immediately, the State Liquor Authority (SLA) will no longer ask if establishments will allow their patrons to dance when they apply for an on-premise liquor license, Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement Thursday.
The latest development in the decades-long fight to repeal draconian laws that restricted dancing in NewYork City’s nightlife establishments removed red tape and addressed the pervasive paranoia that answering “yes” to questions about allowing dancing will somehow jeopardize a business’s liquor license.
“New York’s hospitality industry is unmatched, and our restaurants, bars and nightlife are a big part of what makes our communities so vibrant,” Hochul said. “By eliminating this antiquated restriction on dancing, we’re making it easier for businesses to succeed and for New Yorkers and visitors alike to experience the energy and excitement that define our state.”
‘Cabaret Law’ long kept NYC from dancing
The lingering collective trauma and fear of acknowledging dancing as part of a State Liquor Authority license application stem from the Prohibition-era “Cabaret Law,” which prohibited businesses from allowing dancing in commercial spaces without a highly restricted cabaret license.
Business owners and patrons wanting to cut a rug have long criticized the law as discriminatory and harmful to the city’s hospitality industry.
Over the years, advocates and lawmakers chipped away and the network of restrictions stifling free movement in the city’s drinking and dining establishments. The Cabaret Law was repealed in 2017, and then in 2024, City of Yes legislation updated zoning laws to allow dancing, comedy performances, and open mic sessions within local eateries and nightlife venues throughout commercial districts.
Now, Hochul and the SLA are removing another layer of red tape in the arduous licensing process for opening a bar or restaurant in NYC. Until Thursday, prospective licensees were required to note on their liquor license application whether they would allow dancing in the establishment; those who did not explicitly notify the SLA of their intention to permit dancing would violate the terms of their license if caught.
But the SLA declared that dancing is no longer considered dirty in NYC, stating that it will not ask or even consider questions about dancing in the on-premises application process — provided prospective businesses comply with local regulations and zoning laws governing dancing, noise levels, and entertainment.
“The SLA should be focused on public safety, quality of life, and the overall operation of licensed businesses — not on whether patrons choose to dance,” New York State Liquor Authority Chair Lily M. Fan said. “Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, we are continuing to remove unnecessary barriers and support the restaurants, bars, and venues that help make New York’s communities dynamic, welcoming, and full of energy.”
Industry advocates such as Andrew Rigie, executive director at the NYC Hospitality Alliance, celebrated scrapping the rules over dancing disclosures, calling it a “critical step” in allowing New Yorkers to get out on the dance floor.
“This change builds on decades of advocacy to dismantle outdated restrictions on dancing and cultural expression in New York City,” Ridgie said in a statement with Hospitality Alliance Counsels Robert Bookman and Max Bookman. “New Yorkers and visitors from around the world go out to celebrate, dance, and experience our vibrant nightlife, and this action helps ensure everyone can celebrate and connect more freely and safely.”
While the exact number of active liquor licenses that prohibit dancing is unclear, SLA officials said the new, streamlined process could affect all of the city’s approximately 27,000 on-premise licenses by removing the fear surrounding the dancing dilemma with liquor licenses.
While license applicants no longer need to disclose their intentions to allow dancing with the SLA, the application process still requires notifying local community boards 30 days in advance. While the SLA will no longer consider the “dancing” question, nothing prevents community boards from directly asking prospective businesses about their intention to allow dancing in their establishments.
Still, the community boards serve in an advisory role, they can make recommendations, but ultimately the decision to issue a liquor license rest with the SLA.
On Thursday, the state agency was clear: In NYC, you can dance if you want to.