A Queens restaurant that hosted a large holiday party with maskless patrons had its liquor license suspended for violating several COVID-19 regulations and other health safety laws, state authorities♔ announced Thursday.
Il Bacco Ristorante in Little Neck was thrust into the limelight in recent weeks after showing a large group o💝f maskless part𒉰iers dancing in a conga line to the Bee Gees’ “You Should Be Dancing” during a gathering organized by the Whitestone Republican Club.
At the time of the party, which was held earlier this moꦓnth, indoor dining was open at 25 percent capacity, and the club haꦐs insisted it was in compliance with state guidance.
But the State Liquor Authority said Thursday it yanked the restaurant’s liquꦡor license last Thursday following an investigation that was launched in response to the viral video.
“During a follow-up inspect🙈ion, investigators found flagrant violations of indoor dining regulations and existing health safety and Alcoholic Beverage Control la꧒ws, while verifying the maskless party depicted in the video did in fact occur,” the SLA said in a statement.
“This summary suspension should send a strong message that we have zero toleranc✅e for establishments that put New Yorkers’ health at riskꦜ.”
During a Dec. 23 inspection of the restaurant by the SLA, customers were spotted d𓆉ining indoors in violation of COVID-19 restrictions🌄, and staff were not properly wearing face masks, authorities said.
Other violations stemmed from broken emergency exit ♛lights and improperly stored propane tanks, according to authorities.
The restaurant could not immediately be reached for comment. A message posted to its Facebook page on Monday says it will be closed until indoor dining resume💟s.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio have criticiz🔴ed the restaurant party, which the mayor said the city would investigate.
At least three coronavirus case𝔍s have been linked to the event, the has repoꦬrted, with one man, James Trent, briefly hospitalized with the illness.
Trent, chair of the local party affiliate Queens Village Republican Club, attended the party and told the outlet he began having sympt🐈oms two days after the party, on Dec. 9.
“I wasn’t on the conga line⛎. I ate by myself,” he told the D൲aily Eagle. “I don’t know how I got this.”
Trent was admitted to North Shore U𒁏niversity Hospital in Manhasset earlier this week and released Thursday, the Whitestone Republica𝓀n Club said in a .
“We wish the best to Jim Trent for a speedy recovery and understand that his hospitalization was purely precautionary, and that he is being released today,” the club told the outlet.
“Whether he contracted the virus at our event, his club’s holiday party held a few days prior, or in the normal course of life will likely never be known.”