NEW YORK The New York State Liquor Authority said it has extended the deadline for applications for all-night New Year’s Eve permits after only 16 restaurants, bars and clubs had requested the permits on time, a far cry from the 611 that applied for the license last year.
The new deadline is Dec. 5. The $36 permit allows operators to stay open until 8 a.m. on Jan. 1. General closing time is 4 a.m.
Bill Crowley, a spokesman for the SLA, said the original Nov. 17 deadline had been imposed in order to allow the department enough “time to process the applications.” Information about the deadline change had been posted on the SLA's website, he said.
However, Robert Bookman, an attorney with the New York Nightlife Association, said most operators were used to applying for the all-night permit in December and that many were confused about the deadline.
"You can’t just put something up on a website without promulgating a rule," he said.