What's happening
This bill allows liquor stores in New York to open at 10 a.m. on Sundays and removes the Christmas Day closure.
Why it matters
Expands shopping convenience. By allowing liquor stores to open earlier on Sundays (at 10 a.m. instead of noon), the bill provides greater flexibility for consumers, including those shopping for events, brunches, or gatherings.
Supports small business revenue. Extended Sunday hours and being open on Christmas Day could generate additional sales opportunities for liquor store owners, potentially boosting local business income.
Reflects changing social norms. Removing the Christmas Day closure signals a shift away from traditional, religiously-influenced restrictions on alcohol sales, aligning state law more closely with contemporary consumer expectations and diverse lifestyles.
May impact workers. The changes could affect the schedules and holiday experiences of liquor store employees, as they may now be required to work earlier on Sundays and on Christmas Day, raising considerations around labor practices and holiday time.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Liquor Store Hours
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to investigations and government operations
- Referred to investigations and government operations
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Allow Liquor Stores on Sundays
In Assembly Committee · Economic Development · Sponsor Patrick Burke
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3978
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 22, 2019
Introduced by Sen. GALLIVAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations
AN ACT to amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to liquor store opening times on certain days
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 14 of section 105 of the alcoholic beverage control law, as amended by section 1 of part U of chapter 63 of the laws of 2003, is amended to read as follows:
(a) No premises licensed to sell liquor and/or wine for off-premises consumption shall be permitted to remain open:
(i) On Sunday before [twelve] ten o'clock [post meridian] antemeridian and after nine o'clock post meridian.
(ii) On any day between midnight and eight o'clock antemeridian.
[(iii) On the twenty-fifth day of December, known as Christmas day.]
In any community where daylight saving time is in effect, such time shall be deemed the standard time for the purpose of this subdivision.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10123-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to liquor store opening times on certain days
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill will permit liquor and wine stores to open on Sundays as early as 10 AM and on Christmas day.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Amends subdivision 14 of section 105 of the Alcoholic Bever- age Control law to permit liquor stores to open at 10 am on Sundays and on Christmas Day.
Section 2 establishes the effective date.
Justification
The Alcoholic Beverage Control law was amended in 2016, in part, to authorize restaurants and taverns to be able to serve alcohol starting at 10 AM on Sundays. This particular change to the law was aimed at reforming New York's anachronous "blue laws". Such reform was necessary; however, liquor and wine stores are still subject to blue laws, which creates an inconvenience for prospective patrons and places these stores at a competitive disadvantage. This bill will correct such inequality.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.