Sunday, January 5, 2014

Sunday Morning Without a Cocktail One of the Few Remaining Blue Laws

     Sunday morning is still home to one of those blue law anachronisms today's generation doesn't know about or even understand why. There are no drinks served in bars and restaurants before noon.
       What's the harm in a Bloody Mary or a mimosa on a pleasant summer morning  ? None really but it's still written that serving sin can happen at 8AM six days but must wait till noon on the seventh.
Popular Brunch Drinks Include the Bloody Mary
 
Sec. 106.5 - Provisions governing licensees to sell at retail for consumption on the premises.

No alcoholic beverages shall be sold, offered for sale, or given away upon any premises licensed to sell alcoholic beverages at retail for on-premises consumption during the following hours:
  • Sunday, from four antemeridian to twelve Noon
  • On any other day between four antemeridian and eight antemeridian

         Only a law written long ago would use 'antemeridian' instead of saying local time. State law does allow sale till four AM unless trumped by a county law further restricting sales.
        A few years back the Sunday ban on liquor stores was scrapped and other stores are now able to sell beer Sunday mornings for off premise consumption.
         A friend insisted to me last night that the Sunday morning prohibition is not true and that everyone does it. When you look it up you see the Sunday rule persists much to the disappointment of brunchers.
        It is one of a long list of bygone rules that should change but likely won't.

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