New "Brunch Bill" could allow alcohol sales before noon on Sundays

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina restaurants could soon start serving alcohol before noon on Sundays.

New state Senate Bill 155, dubbed the "Brunch Bill," is looking to allow alcohol sales starting at 10 a.m.

Under the current law, grocery stores, restaurants and bars cannot sell alcohol before noon on Sundays.

Its supporters said the bill would promote economic growth while its opponents said the bill goes against traditional values.

Owner of Demetrio's Family Restaurant in Belmont, Demetrios Karvounis, said his customers know what goes well with a slice of pizza.

“Summer time I sell a lot of beer. Winter time, it's more wine,” he said.

If the bill passes, Karvounis could get an extra two hours on Sunday to sell a lot more.

Senate Bill 155 said a county or city would be able to adopt an ordinance to start selling alcohol at 10 a.m. Sundays instead of the current time of noon.

Karvounis said if this bill gets signed, he'll see a difference with his bottom line but it'll come with a catch.

“It would make a difference, but there are a lot of families here and a lot of people who don't want it,” he said.

The reverend of the Christian Action League, Mark Creech, said he is one of those people who don't want it.

He said he believes those two extra hours will lead to more crashes and injuries.

He said he's disappointed in the leaders who don't think two hours will make a difference.

"I certainly don't think we need to add additional hours to the liquor sales week. We ought to be doing just the opposite," Creech said.

But some believe it's time to change with the times.

“I think some of the argument was, was that it would cause problems, but I think we're clinging to a tradition that had a lot of religious origin,” restaurant goer John Collier said.

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