Alabama Beer

Governor Andrew Cuomo and legislators announced an agreement on legislation to modernize New York's 80-year-old Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Law. The agreement, announced Tuesday, will allow alcohol sales at 10 a.m.-- two hours earlier than currently allowed. (AP Photo/Dave Martin, File)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Raise your glass. And raise it early Sunday morning, thanks to new state legislation.

Governor Andrew Cuomo and legislators announced an agreement on legislation to modernize New York's 80-year-old Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Law.

The agreement, announced Tuesday, will allow alcohol sales at 10 a.m.-- two hours earlier than currently allowed.

The ABC Law currently includes provisions strictly prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages at on-premises establishments (restaurants, bars, taverns) before noon on Sunday.

The new agreement is the result of negotiations spurred by the restaurant industry that would have allowed alcohol sales beginning at 8 a.m.

The new provisions are meant to broaden retail sales by producers, and reduce fees for wineries, distilleries, breweries and cideries statewide. The agreement builds upon Cuomo's actions to simplify regulations for the beverage industry.



"We've worked hard to cut red tape, lower costs and roll back burdensome regulations to help New York's craft beverage industry thrive and create jobs, as well as some of the best beer, wine, cider and distilled spirits in the world," said Cuomo.

"This agreement to overhaul this state's archaic blue laws will build upon these ongoing efforts by knocking down artificial barriers for restaurants and small businesses and helping this industry grow even stronger," he added.

FOLLOW Tracey Porpora on