Governor Hochul Bends 370 Year-Old Law Across New York State

New York made history Sunday morning. It involved beer before sunrise.

New York doesn’t usually bend its alcohol laws. Especially not on a Sunday morning. But this weekend? History got put on ice.

Hochul Allows Bars To Serve At 6 A.M. Sunday

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Governor Kathy Hochul made a rare statewide move, allowing bars and restaurants to serve alcohol starting at 6 a.m. Sunday, so fans could watch Team USA’s Olympic gold medal hockey game.

"I still remember watching the 1980 game as a college student at Syracuse University, working in a pizza shop. The whole place stopped and watched together," Hochul stated.

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That might sound like common sense to hockey fans, but in New York, it’s actually a huge deal.

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Under current law, Sunday alcohol service typically begins at 10 a.m., a rule rooted in centuries-old “Blue Laws” dating back to the Dutch colonial era.

The state has occasionally allowed earlier openings for major international sports events, but those usually required businesses to apply for special permits and pay fees.

This time, Hochul directed the State Liquor Authority to suspend enforcement statewide between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., eliminating the usual red tape.

It was the earliest a New York governor has ever effectively allowed Sunday morning alcohol service for a sporting event, and a major break from traditions that once banned alcohol sales until noon to encourage church attendance.

USA Men's Hockey Wins Gold

Those who went to the bar early got to see the U.S. men's ice hockey team win its first gold medal since 1980. Team USA took down Canada 2-1 in overtime Sunday morning.

Jack Hughes scored the game-winning goal in the extra period. NHL MVP Connor Hellebuyck stopped 41 shots for the Stars and Stripes.

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The win didn’t just deliver bragging rights; it also gave the United States its 12th gold medal of these Winter Olympics, officially setting a new Team USA record for most golds in a single Winter Games.

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