Teetotaling Bloomberg Backtracks on Booze Ban [Poll]

Well, that was quick.

After floating a trial balloon of a plan to thin out the number of liquor stores and bars in New York City, the mayor’s office has walked back Michael Bloomberg’s “War on Booze.”

The proposal — which was first made public yesterday with a lurid Prohibition Era photo on the cover of the New York Post — quickly grabbed the attention of Forest Hills, along with the rest of the city.

Bloomberg spokesman Stu Loesser told the Post Wednesday that the plan was one among a number of ideas to help curb binge drinking and alcohol sales to underage New Yorkers.

Despite the good intentions, Forest Hills was not amused by the threat to throwback to a more teetotalling time.

One local liquor store manager said the process to obtain a liquor license in the first place was difficult enough, without having to contend with a plan that puts a premium on shelf space in neighborhoods across the five boroughs.

On Austin Street, the bartenders didn’t have any friendly words for hizzoner, either.

“I definitely think it’s the wrong thing to do,” said Nicole Dodd, 23, a bartender at “It’s not going to stop underage drinking, because if somebody wants to drink, someone’s going to drink anyway. They’ll find a liquor store, even if they have to go outside their neighborhood.”

Dodd said she thought the proposal would just create different problems for the city — like an increase in drunk drivers as city residents would be forced to go further from home to find their fix.

“For somebody to get to their liquor, if they’re going to cut it out of their neighborhood,  they’re going to have to go further to get it,” she said. “Time will tell on that much.”