Set Your Alarms, New Yorkers, Boozy Brunch Just Got Earlier

Pop the Champagne and top it with some orange juice! Brunch-loving New Yorkers will soon be able to get their weekend cocktail on starting at 10 a.m., thanks to a new bill that will overturn the outdated ban of alcohol sales before noon on Sundays.

"Fans of brunch, soccer, football, holidays and all things Sunday-funday can now raise a glass to thank the governor, Senate and Assembly for their agreement,” said Melissa Fleischut, president of the state Restaurant Association.

The brunch bill will also allow restaurants to receive up to 12 waivers a year to sell booze at 8 a.m. on Sundays in areas outside New York City for special events like international sports matches. New York leaders have been trying to modernize these Prohibition-era blue laws for the last eight months.

“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,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. “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.”

The announcement of the bill coincides with new research from the U.K. finally proving that eating celery does indeed burn calories. For us, that means drinking a Bloody Mary on a Sunday morning totally counts as kickstarting our Monday diet early.

While all of the New York leaders have agreed to the conditions, the bill still needs to be formalized and passed through the state legislature. The new laws would go into effect 60 days after Gov. Cuomo signs the bill. In a nation that’s always politically gridlocked, at least we can count on good ol’ alcohol to finally inspire some bipartisan cooperation.