SUNDAY MORNING COCKTAILS?

One of the longstanding arbitrary blue laws in Massachusetts forbids the sale of alcohol before noon on Sundays. It’s arbitrary because any other day of the week you can order a cocktail at 8am, if you so choose, and if the establishment has the right type of license. Sundays, however, are exempt from this even though it’s probably the only day of the week people are inclined to imbibe before noon. But that may be about to change. Restaurant owners are optimistic that a pending bill allowing them serve liquor starting at 1Oam on Sundays will pass. The bill’s spokesman is Dave Andelman, creator of the Phantom Gourmet television show. Andelman said the bill could also be a boon to tourism. The bill has the backing of both Republicans and Democrats in the legislature, including Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei, R-Wakefield, and Senate Ways and Means Chairman Steven Panagiotakos, D-Lowell. No decision had been made as of press time.