The Boozy Brunch Bill Passes NYS Senate

CARLE PLACE, NY (May 28, 2022) - This week, the New York State Senate passed the Boozy Brunch Bill, S.3106/A.6766, with unanimous support. The bill by NYS Senator Anna M. Kaplan (D-North Hills) would allow liquor and wine stores to open earlier on Sunday, moving the time from Noon to 10 AM.

Senator Anna M. Kaplan said “Under our current laws, you can order a mimosa at a restaurant at 10 AM on a Sunday morning, but you can't buy the ingredients to make one at home. The present situation isn't just unfair to New Yorkers in need of libations on a Sunday morning, it's also unfair to small businesses who are restricted from selling products that other establishments are able to."

In 2016, an Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Law Workgroup was empaneled and made recommendations for reform of the State's ABC laws. One of the changes that was ultimately made was to move the time that a restaurant could serve alcohol on Sundays to 10 AM, creating Boozy Brunch. Prior to that time, the law had been the same for the sale of alcohol at restaurants as well as what time liquor stores were permitted to open on Sunday. The legislation passed this week by Senator Kaplan seeks to realign these times creating parity between restaurants and stores.

The bill, S.3106/A.6766, would:

• Amend section 105 of the Alcoholic Beverage Control law to change the time liquor and wine stores may open on Sundays from Noon to 10 AM.

Following passage in the Senate, the bill now goes to the State Assembly for consideration.