Even though New Year’s is still two months away, we’ve been getting many calls regarding All Night Permits which allow a licensee to sell alcohol through the night until 8AM.  Unfortunately, the SLA can not issue this permit for New Year’s 2012 because New Year’s Day falls on a Sunday.   Section 106(5)(a) prohibits alcoholic beverages to be sold, offered for sale or given away upon any premises licensed to sell alcoholic beverages at retail for on premises consumption on Sunday between 4:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon on Sunday. Licensed establishments will be required to adhere to the approved closing hour in the County in which they are located (e.g., 4AM in New York City).

The announcement was recently made on the SLA’s front page (search for “New Year’s”): http://www.abc.state.ny.us/.