In New York, the time you can buy beer on a Sunday depends on where you’re buying it. At grocery stores, delis, bodegas, gas stations, and convenience stores, beer is available whenever the store is open, with no Sunday-specific cutoff. At bars, restaurants, and brewery taprooms, Sunday service starts at 10:00 AM.
Buying Beer to Take Home
There is no early-morning Sunday restriction on off-premise beer sales. New York used to prohibit these sales between 3:00 AM and 8:00 AM on Sundays under Section 105-a of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.1New York State Senate. New York Alcoholic Beverage Control Law 105-A – Sale of Beer at Retail on Sunday In October 2023, Governor Hochul signed S.5731, which repealed that section entirely.2New York State Senate. NY State Senate Bill 2023-S5731
So a 24-hour convenience store can sell you a six-pack at 5:00 AM on Sunday, which would have been illegal before the repeal. The only limit now is the store’s own hours.
One thing to keep in mind: beer is the only alcoholic drink sold at grocery stores, delis, and convenience stores in New York. Wine and liquor are restricted to licensed package stores.
Drinking Beer at a Bar or Restaurant
Sunday service at bars, restaurants, pubs, and brewery taprooms begins at 10:00 AM statewide. That start time came in with 2016 legislation commonly called the “Brunch Bill,” which moved Sunday opening up from noon.3New York State Senate. New York Legislators: Let New Yorkers Buy Booze Earlier on Sundays Service can continue until 4:00 AM Monday morning, the same cutoff that applies every night of the week under Section 106 of the ABC Law.4New York State Senate. New York Alcoholic Beverage Control Law 106 – Provisions Governing Licensees to Sell at Retail for Consumption on Premises
Counties can set an earlier last call than 4:00 AM, and many do. The State Liquor Authority publishes a county-by-county closing hours list.5Liquor Authority. County Closing Hours If you’re out of your usual area on a Sunday night, check it; the bar might stop pouring earlier than you’d expect. Individual bars also set their own hours within what the law allows, so a 10:00 AM statewide floor doesn’t mean every bar unlocks the door that early.
Dry Towns Where None of This Applies
Eight towns in New York are fully dry, meaning no alcohol is sold at all. According to the most recent State Liquor Authority advisory, they are Caneadea (Allegany County), Clymer (Chautauqua County), Lapeer (Cortland County), Orwell (Oswego County), Fremont and Jasper (Steuben County), Berkshire (Tioga County), and Argyle (Washington County).6Liquor Authority. Advisory 2016-1 Local Options: List of Dry Towns and Partially Dry Towns Additional towns are partially dry, allowing some license types but not others. State law sets the ceiling on Sunday hours; your town can always be stricter.