Brunch Fiends Can Start Drinking Earlier This Sunday After ‘Brunch Bill’ Signed

Set your alarms two hours earlier on Sunday because New York’s "Brunch Bill" officially lets restaurants serve booze at 10 a.m. starting this weekend. The Daily News reports that Governor Andrew Cuomo officially signed the law this week that ends the Prohibition-era rule barring bars and restaurants from serving alcohol until noon on Sundays. The law has been in place for more than 80 years, much to the dismay of people trying to get their bloody mary on as early as possible.

Cuomo put together a committee earlier this year to study the alcohol laws. A major reason the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law Working Group suggested the switch was international sports fans. People watching European soccer wake up extra early due to time differences and previously couldn’t get a drink at bars that showed the games due to the law.

But for New Yorkers who brunch, the change also means restaurants can now legally serve a mimosa before noon on Sundays. Of course, many smaller restaurants in the city have been skirting the law and serve drinks before noon anyway. Now, all restaurants can feel on the right side of the law when giving an earlier start to champagne-fueled day drinking across the city.

• New York bars, restaurants get OK to sell booze as early as 10 a.m. on Sundays as Gov. Cuomo signs ‘Brunch Bill’ [NYDN]