Free lunch newspaper's estimate that the saloon keepers fed 60,000 people a day and that this represented a contribution of about $18,000 a week toward the relief of the destitute in Chicago. In 1896, the New York State legislature passed the Raines law which was intended to regulate liquor traffic. Among its many provisions, one forbade the sale of liquor unless accompanied by food; another outlawed the free lunch. In 1897, however, it was amended to allow free lunches again. Free lunch A free lunch is the providing of a meal at no cost, usually as a sales enticement to attract customers
Law of New York (state) Law of New York (state) The Constitution of New York is the foremost source of state law. The legislation of the New York State Legislature is published in the official "Laws of New York" and codified in the "Consolidated Laws of New York". State agency rules and regulations are promulgated in the "New York State Register" and compiled in the "New York Codes, Rules and Regulations". Because New York is a common law state, every opinion, memorandum, and motion sent by the Court of Appeals and the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court is published in the "New York Reports"