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Massachusetts Revises an Old Law - Alcohol Can Now be Served on Sunday Morning

By
Real Estate Agent with The Buyers' Counsel

champaigne with glassesMassachusetts Revises an Old Law - Alcohol Can Now be Served on Sunday Morning 

 

Due to the efforts of a local restaurant critic we can now raise a glass on bubbly on Sunday mornings in Massachusetts.  

Dave Andelman, who hosts both television and radio programs was behind the recent successful effort to change one of Massachusetts' antiquated laws.  It was all about the service of alcohol on Sunday. 

In a leftover from our Puritan ethics, the rule was that restaurants were not allowed to begin serving any alcoholic beverage prior to 12:00 noon on the Sabbath.  This meant dining on brunch without a Mimosa or even a Bloody Mary.  

The creator of the "Phantom Gourmet," a popular restaurant show that is aired on television as well as on the radio, originally proposed the new law.  It certainly makes sense for a restaurant critic to be in favor of early imbibing since it helps the food and beverage industry to help entice people into their establishments.  

Up to this point, eateries that catered particularly to the tourist crowd would have to give the strange explanation to their patrons that in Massachusetts we didn't think you needed an Irish Coffee on Sunday, at least until noon.  

Earlier this month, Governor Deval Patrick put his rubber stamp on this new law that is actually part of a $27.6 billion budget with this and other numerous other changes. 

On so many issues Massachusetts has been out in front of the rest of the country.  Now we can finally drink a toast to this fact - even on a Sunday morning.

 

Copyright 2010 "Massachusetts Revises an Old Law - Alcohol Can Now be Served on Sunday Morning"

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Comments (15)

Mario Jannatpour
RE/MAX Alliance in Louisville, Colorado - Louisville, CO
Author of the Book, "The Honest Real Estate Agent"

Very interesting!  I did not know this.  In Colorado we have recently allowed liquor stores to now be open on Sundays--that was a big change.

Jul 29, 2010 04:43 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Each state probably has their odd laws.  I know that Virginia is very uptight about who sells liquor.  You can't buy it in a store, only a state controlled store.  Was a huge deal during the Governor's election because one of the candidates wanted to allow liquor stores to be privately owned. 

Jul 29, 2010 04:49 AM
Claudette Millette
The Buyers' Counsel - Ashland, MA
Buyer, Broker - Metrowest Mass

Mario:

That happened here a few years ago. But I had thought we were extremely behind the times then.

Chris Ann:

Isn't that interesting? I thought Massachusetts was less progressive on this issue, possibly because of my years in California where wine is even sold in pharmacies.  Here, you can now buy liquor in grocery stores as well.  (The important things in life.)

 

Jul 29, 2010 05:01 AM
Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Claudette...

Now you can enjoy a champagne brunch EVERY Sunday!

Jul 29, 2010 05:51 AM
Claudette Millette
The Buyers' Counsel - Ashland, MA
Buyer, Broker - Metrowest Mass

Richard:

Absolutely - that is the idea.

 

Jul 29, 2010 05:57 AM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

This is the leftover from the old British drinking laws I guess.

Jul 29, 2010 03:55 PM
Claudette Millette
The Buyers' Counsel - Ashland, MA
Buyer, Broker - Metrowest Mass

Jane:

I think we have a "hangover" from many old British laws. (But we do love the Brits.)

 

Jul 30, 2010 12:09 AM
Russell Lewis
Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate - Austin, TX
Broker,CLHMS,GRI

HA HA HA! Well...Amen to that! Though it will probably never happen here in Texas ;-)

Jul 30, 2010 01:33 AM
Donna Galinsky
Allen Tate Company - Cornelius, NC
Make Lake Norman Your Home!

Whew! What is a brunch without a Bloody Mary?

Jul 30, 2010 06:10 AM
Claudette Millette
The Buyers' Counsel - Ashland, MA
Buyer, Broker - Metrowest Mass

Russell:

Do you mean, in Texas you still have to wait until 12:00 noon?

Donna:

Many people are with you on that.  My preference is champagne.

 

Jul 30, 2010 08:09 AM
Kim Brown
Keller Williams Realty - Keene, NH
Keene, NH - New England at its Best!

Claudette, I bartended in Sudbury for several years and whenever I worked the brunch shift, I always knew when it was 11:55a.m. because the drink orders would start flying in!   The "charm" of this antiquated law failed to impress many an out-of-state visitor, so I'm very glad to hear that they've finally changed it!

<clink> Cheers! :)

Jul 31, 2010 02:40 AM
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

We can't 'buy alcohol' in stores till 10 am Sunday morning . . . but it's pretty irrelevant since just down the street I can have an X-spicy Bloodie or Mimosa with breakfast at a local diner - or go across the river 3 miles to 24 hour casino town . . .

Congrats on the new law! A sante!

Aug 02, 2010 04:37 AM
Claudette Millette
The Buyers' Counsel - Ashland, MA
Buyer, Broker - Metrowest Mass

Kim:

You bartended in Sudbury?  I started my real estate career in Sudbury, right at the Re/Max in the center of town.

You are right - people from other parts of the country did not quite understand why they couldn't have drink with their brunch.  I am glad they changed it.

Candice:

Do you have casinos in Arizona? That is the next "sin" law that they are working on here in Massachusetts. Our governor wants us to have three resort style casinos and that is being voted on right now.

 

Aug 02, 2010 05:37 AM
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

We have some casinos in AZ (on tribal land) - but directly across the river in Laughlin, NV, gaming is in grocery stores, gas stations and of course all the resorts . . . :)

Aug 02, 2010 06:06 AM
Kim Brown
Keller Williams Realty - Keene, NH
Keene, NH - New England at its Best!

I bartended at Bullfinch's before moving to NH.  If I remember correctly, the ReMax was in the old Country Living location next to Mill Village.  Do I have that right?

My mother-in-law has worked, in one capacity or another, at The Wayside Inn for more years than I can count.  She was just up here visiting, and we were discussing this very law.  The conclusion we came to:  It's about time!

Aug 02, 2010 11:40 AM