Representative Mark Falzone announced that the Restaurant Rejuvenation Act was signed into law last week allowing restaurants to serve alcohol starting at 10 a.m. on Sunday. This job-creating legislation was passed as part of the State Budget for Fiscal Year 2011.

Representative Falzone said, “Restaurants already employ so many people across the state and in our community. I was pleased to have the chance to support job creation and retention in this vital sector in our state budget.”

“This provision will increase business for restaurants and provide a boost to our economy in these uncertain fiscal times,” House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo said. “This measure promises to save and create jobs in the restaurant industry while encouraging economic activity needed to grow the Massachusetts economy.”

"It is a proud day for restaurants, waiters, waitresses and consumers in Massachusetts,” said Dave Andelman, the originator of the new law. “I would like to thank all those who played a role in passing this legislation before the July 4th holiday weekend, including House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo and the members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. The new law will increase employment, income taxes, sales taxes, and meals taxes, without costing the government a single dollar. It will help the restaurant industry, which employees roughly 10% of the work force, fight the recession. We expect this to generate tens of millions of dollars per year for the state."

Prior to this measure, restaurants were prohibited from serving alcohol until noon on Sunday.