Long Beach’s City Council is set to uncork a big policy shift Tuesday, debating ordinance changes that could let licensed businesses sell alcohol on the boardwalk, remove the city’s cap on the number of bars, and lift a moratorium on issuing new bar permits. The proposal keeps one key rule in place: the city’s ban on alcohol on the beach would remain, so any drinking would stay confined to licensed premises rather than the public sand.
As reported by News 12 Long Island, the ordinances on the April 7 agenda would roll back earlier restrictions and explicitly allow restaurants and other establishments along the boardwalk to serve alcohol. News 12 notes that two businesses, Tulum Tacos & Tequila and Riptides 11561, applied to the New York State Liquor Authority last year for on-premises liquor permits.
Tulum is already lined up as the anchor tenant for the new Superblock waterfront retail at 180 Boardwalk, with a lease for roughly 5,800 square feet, according to Long Island Business News. The city’s concession paperwork also shows Riptides operating from an Edward Boulevard boardwalk storefront under a lease filed in January 2025, highlighting how many boardwalk businesses could be affected if the rules change; that lease is available in the city’s public records.
How liquor licensing would work
Even if Long Beach loosens its local rules, any business that wins City Council approval would still need state permission to serve alcohol. The New York State Liquor Authority issues on-premises licenses and outlines the types of permits, application steps, and public hearing processes that restaurants and bars must follow, according to the SLA’s on-premises guidance.
Meeting logistics and the agenda
The City Council meets at 7:00 p.m. on the sixth floor of Long Beach City Hall. The city’s meeting page lists the boardwalk-related items at the top of Tuesday’s agenda and explains how residents can watch the session through the municipal live stream. City Hall is located at 1 West Chester Street, and the boardwalk businesses involved are based along the Edward Boulevard and Boardwalk corridor.
Why it’s sparked debate
Supporters argue that allowing controlled, on-premises alcohol service could give waterfront dining a lift and help new tenants anchor the boardwalk’s retail mix. Opponents warn that loosening restrictions could bring more late-night noise and crowding, concerns the council will have to balance against the potential business and tourism benefits, a split that local coverage has highlighted.
What happens next
Council members are expected to discuss the proposals Tuesday and could move the ordinances forward for a vote or send them for additional review. Any local approvals would still leave final license decisions in the hands of the New York State Liquor Authority and other regulatory checks. Residents who want to follow or weigh in can watch the meeting via the city’s livestream and review the city’s posted documents for the full proposed ordinance language and backup materials.
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