Opelika City Council denies Sunday alcohol change

OPELIKA, AL (WTVM) - The growing popularity of brunch has some craving a bloody mary or mimosa before noon on Sundays.

Two cities in East Alabama are deciding whether or not to allow restaurants to start pouring earlier in the day.

Auburn is moving forward with the change while Opelika has come to a stalemate on whether alcohol will be served before noon on Sunday.

"Sunday morning especially should be reserved for church and church activities so they didn't want the sell of any alcohol before noon," Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller said.

Opelika City Council is citing religious reasons behind their decision to not allow alcohol sales to start sooner on Sunday.

The Brunch Bill was in the works following talks from local businesses that they were missing out on revenue during that gap between 10 a.m.  and noon.

Some agree with city leaders and believe Sunday is not the day for booze.

"I don't see any need in it, you've got six other days," one Opelika local said.

Just down the road, Auburn passed a resolution asking the legislature to pass a local act allowing the city council to change alcohol sales on Sundays – the bill is being written in Montgomery right now and is planned to be introduced this legislative session.

"I know we've eaten brunch a good bit down here… I think it'll bring in more business," one Auburn local said.

Popular brunch restaurants in Opelika like Irish Bread Pub and Zazu were hoping they could see more income before noon with alcohol sales, but that's not the case...at least for now.

"If the council wants to do a referendum I would support that."

If there is a referendum, the people of Opelika would decide on a November ballot whether to change alcohol sales on Sunday.

This change would only be for restaurants, however, grocery and liquor stores would remain to sell alcohol at noon.

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