Sheriffs Arrest Owners Of BK 'Party Boat' Flouting Pandemic Rules

BROOKLYN, NY — A "party boat" with an expired liquor license docked in Red Hook was one three Brooklyn spots found flouting rules meant to stop the spread of the coronavirus this week.

Officers with the New York City Sheriff's Office found more than 100 people partying on the "Liberty Belle" boat, which was docked at Bowne Street, when they stopped by on Aug. 1, according to governors office.

The visit led the New York State Liquor Authority to deny a liquor license renewal for the boat, and the sheriffs arrested the owners and captain for social distancing violations and operating an unlicensed bar.

It was one of more than 20 establishments the New York State Liquor Authority penalized this week for flouting social distancing rules.

"Noncompliance will lead us right back right where we were just a few months ago — so we must continue to crack down on the bad actors who violate the law and risk everyone's health and safety," said Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who convened the task force of investigators to check on the state's bars after videos of late-night, maskless partiers.

21 Greenpoint in Greenpoint and Congress on Court Street in Cobble Hill had their liquor license pulled by the authority.

At 21 Greenpoint, investigators with the governor's task force found two customers eating and drinking inside without face coverings, a crowd congregating outside and more customers eating at an unauthorized sidewalk table.

At Congress, the investigators found 11 people congregating in front of the bar drinking alcohol without food and two people who had been given to-go alcoholic beverages in open containers without food.

Under an order from the governor, establishments can only serve alcohol to people ordering "substantial food."

The bars and party boat join three others in Brooklyn that had their liquor licenses recently suspended.

The state has pulled liquor licenses from dozens of bars in recent weeks, many in Astoria in Queens.

More liquor license suspensions for Brooklyn bars are likely in the works.

The governor's task force checked up on establishments 3,047 times over the weekend and found violations at 106 of them, according to the governor's office.

Cuomo said that formal charges from the latest inspections are being prepared.

Businesses face fines as high as $10,000 or immediate suspension of their liquor license for violating COVID-19 regulations.