The Flowery Branch City Council gave a first reading approval Thursday to an ordinance that would allow restaurants to sell alcohol earlier on Sundays than currently allowed.
The city's current ordinance prohibits restaurants from selling alcohol on Sundays until at least 12:30 p.m. The new ordinance would change that time to 11:00 a.m.
The ordinance comes as several jurisdictions across Georgia make similar changes after the state House of Representatives and Governor Nathan Deal approved the "brunch bill" in 2018, allowing cities and counties to change the start time for Sunday alcohol sales. The item was on the ballot for Flowery Branch residents in November's general election and passed with over 71 percent of the vote.
The city council voted unanimously Thursday to approve the first reading, with no citizens speaking for or against the measure. Meanwhile, Hall County and the cities of Gainesville and Oakwood are also looking to approve similar changes that would make the sales times universal across almost the entire county.
The second and final reading of the new ordinance is set to be voted on at the Flowery Branch City Council's next meeting on January 17.
