NYSLSA Advocacy Information

Every day the New York State Liquor Store Association and its lobbyist, Todd Vandervort of The Vandervort Group work diligently for retailers across upstate New York to address challenges and drive growth, represent and advocate for our members best interests, and provide member value-added benefits.

With the support of members and industry partners, we proactively taking on challenges with the goal of protecting the industry, and opening doors to opportunities that allow our member stores to grow and thrive.

Here is a snapshot of what NYSLSA and The Vandervort Group have been focusing on and will continue to focus on throughout 2023:

  • COVID-19 SLA Mandates & Executive Orders
  • Adult-Use Cannabis
  • Wine in Grocery Stores
  • Maintain a 3-Tier System. 
  • Bottle Bill Expansion
  • Legislation Support:  
    • Allowing manufacturers and wholesalers to offer quantity discounts to retailers on different types of wine in the same family from the same manufacturer. 
    • Directing the manufacturer or owner of a liquor or wine to designate the primary American source of supply and to file a registration with the NYS Liquor Authority.
    • Creation of a New York Craft Beverage Council.

NYSLSA Members: Click HERE for more detailed information regarding the above.

About Our Lobbyist 

Todd Vandervort, President of The Vandervort Group, LLC (TVG) has been NYSLSA’s lobbyist for more than 10 years.  The role of a lobbyist is essential to the success of an association because they use their legislative and State agency relationships to be the voice of the members of the association.  As NYSLSA’s lobbyist, TVG has worked to oppose bad proposals and to advance beneficial ones for retailers, many of whom are small independent businesses.

TVG Team also works with the NYS Liquor Authority (SLA) to ensure that the retailers’ position is heard as they develop Advisories and Bulletins that impact our stores.  TVG also gets answers to many questions that retailers raise and we ensure that retailers are in compliance with all laws, rules, and regulations that are pertinent to our businesses.

Click here to view some of the more notable issues that TVG has lobbied for NYSLSA.

Other Initiatives:

We will continue to provide updates on all activities at the NYS Liquor Authority and ensure that the retailer position is communicated with regard to Advisories, Bulletins, and other relevant items.

In 2020, we will continue to work with the NY Wine and Grape Foundation to enhance the relationship between retailers and wineries.  We will reach out to retailers as needed.

With the ever-changing landscape in Albany and across the world and the work ahead of us, we need all retailers to join the NYS Liquor Store Association and give to our Political Action Fund so that we have the resources to fight for our stores.