Drink up, mimosa guzzlers!
Bottomless brunch is exempt from a little-known state law that prohibits restaurants from serving “unlimited” drinks because the booze-fests are considered special “events,” state officials said.
The law, which sparked outrage earlier this week, forbids “selling, serving, delivering or offering to patrons an unlimited number of drinks during any set period of time for a fixed price.”
But a loophole makes boozy brunches an exception, the State Liquor Association told Business Insider.
“There is a limited exception in the statute when the service of alcohol is incidental to the event, such as in the case of certain brunch specials. Even under these limited exceptions, licensees still have a legal obligation not to over serve patrons,” the agency wrote in an e-mail.
“The SLA will continue to take a balanced regulatory approach by allowing licensees to conduct specials where alcohol is an accompaniment, while simultaneously cracking down on specials that promote excessive drinking,” SLA added.
The law in question, N.Y. 117-A, was created at least five years ago to help stomp out over-serving customers at bars.
State authorities recently posted a reminder online, urging bars and restaurants to read-up on the rules, prompting backlash from brunch buffs who enjoy a buzz along with their omelets.
The NYC Hospitality Alliance, which is made up of restaurateurs, told The Post the agency had been flooded with calls about the law earlier this week.
“We started getting a lot of calls from our member [restaurants] with questions about it, so it was abundantly clear to us that a lot of restaurants are not aware of the law,” said Robert Bookman, counsel to the NYC Hospitality Alliance.
Restaurants are still responsible for not over-serving patrons. Eateries that promote excessive drinking can be slapped with a $10,000 fine.