Brooklyn Boro

Beer for Breakfast? BP Adams wants 8 a.m. alcohol sales on Sundays

BP Releases Report on City’s Thriving Craft Beverage Industry

May 25, 2017 By Scott Enman Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Borough President Eric Adams released a report on Tuesday on the city’s booming craft beverage industry. He is calling for several changes to be made to aid the companies, including allowing earlier alcohol sales on Sunday. Photos by Erica Sherman/Brooklyn BP’s Office
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The American soccer fan is all too familiar with the sacrifices he or she must make to watch the world’s best matches.

From Champions League games during the workday to English Premier League fixtures at ungodly hours on weekends, Americans must routinely bend over backwards to get their football fix.

And as love for the Beautiful Game continues to grow in Brooklyn, many bars are opening increasingly earlier to accommodate those who want to watch games across the pond.

These watering holes, however, cannot legally serve alcohol until 10 a.m., thanks to an antiquated law known as the Sunday Blue Law.

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, however, is calling for that time to be reduced to 8 a.m. so that Brooklynites can enjoy a cold beverage with their match or for brunch.

“Businesses located outside of New York City can apply for a permit to start serving alcohol at 8:00 a.m. … New York City businesses are put at a disadvantage by having different time allowances than other parts of the state,” Adams wrote in a report released on Tuesday.

“To increase revenue and please brunch-goers and European League soccer fans, New York state should allow New York City businesses to apply for a permit to serve alcohol at 8:00 a.m. on Sundays.”

The call for an earlier serving time is part of a report released by his administration on the city’s booming craft beverage industry.

Adams wants to create more support for independent craft breweries, cideries, distilleries and wineries and help these quintessential Brooklyn institutions continue to thrive and advance local tourism.

“We’re here to distill the best from our craft beverage industry, a multimillion dollar growth opportunity for our city,” said Adams. “The five boroughs are home to some fabulous fermenters, Brooklyn especially, and the city and state can do more to make them global brands.

“Our report outlines steps we must take in order to brew a successful industry that continues to receive accolades from tastemakers and tourists alike. I can’t accept second best for Brooklyn and New York City.”

Adams’ plan was released at a press conference on Tuesday in Williamsburg at the New York Distilling Company.

The report, compiled by his administration, includes recommendations to expand the economic potential of its breweries, cideries, distilleries and wineries.

There are currently 60 of these manufacturers operating in the five boroughs.  

“We are really excited about a great group of people that are part of the distilling industry in Brooklyn,” Adams said at the press conference. “These ladies and gentleman are really pioneers in when people say that ‘there’s something special about what’s happening in Brooklyn,’ this is what they’re talking about.

“Often times, people can’t put their finger on it, they just know that there’s something brewing. Well, what’s brewing is the great beer, gin, whiskey and the entire industry has continued to brew in Brooklyn.”

Adams revealed that he dedicated $1 million for the Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) as a starting investment to create an Urban Incubator in Brooklyn.

Adams said that in 2015 alone, the U.S. produced 24.5 million barrels by more than 4,200 breweries. Small, independent breweries accounted for 99 percent of those in operation.

In addition to changing Sunday’s starting time for alcohol sales, Adams stressed the need for the city to create a dedicated single point of contact to help people launch and run their craft beverage business efficiently.

Adams also wants better communication between city agencies like FDNY, the Department of Buildings and the craft beverage companies.

Furthermore, he wants better waste management, for the city to support urban agriculture and for these beverage businesses to be used as a tool to boost local tourism.

“[New York] state has distinct licenses with limits on production,” said Adams. “Other states do not. We want to remain competitive to make sure that we can compete with the other states. Things are just done better in New York state but we must allow the businesses to do it better by getting out of their way.”

He added, “The name of the game is not to play ‘I got you’ with the business, it’s to play ‘I support you’ with the business. That’s what we’re calling on to take place.”

 

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