NYC eyes cutting number of liquor stores to curb health-threatening booze abuse

Jeers to this!The city Department of Health is suggesting cutting the number of liquor stores in the Big Apple as a way to curb health-threatening booze abuse.In a report released Wednesday, Mayor Eric Adams’ DOH warned that consuming too much alcohol has been linked to at least seven types of cancer, including mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, liver and colorectal, as well as breast cancer in women.The report recommends reducing the “density” of spirit slingers in certain neighborhoods, and also suggests restrictions on alcohol advertising and spiking sales taxes and drink prices — recalling the public health war against tobacco.“This report from the Health Department is a clear reminder that our work to build a healthier city for all New Yorkers is far from over,” said Adams, a health nut but also a nightlife advocate, as he endorsed the report.“It’s especially concerning to see how the density of liquor stores in a neighborhood is linked to heavy drinking, and how this disproportionately affects communities of color,” said Adams in a statement.The report — part of Adams’ “HealthyNYC” agenda — found that city neighborhoods with the highest concentration of liquor stores also had the largest prevalence of heavy drinking (12%).That’s about three times higher than in neighborhoods with the lowest liquor store density (4%), according to the study.There are nearly 25,000 businesses licensed to sell spirits in the city, with about 1,500 categorized as liquor stores, the report said.But the head of the group representing the city’s 3,300 wine and liquor store merchants railed that cutting off booze outlets was extreme and anti-business.“Our products are only sold in a controlled and regulated environment, because we believe in responsible drinking, only among legal age adults,” said Michael Correra, executive director of the Metropolitan Package Store Association and owner of Michael Towne Wine & Spirits in Brooklyn Heights.“It ...