BLOOMINGTON - A longstanding tradition that has kept Bloomington "dry" on Sunday mornings may soon change. On Tuesday, the Bloomington Liquor Commission voted 3-1 to recommend that alcohol sales be allowed to start at 6 a.m. on Sundays. | MyPantagraph: Bloomington Government and Issues Group

Now they cannot begin before noon on Sundays.

The issue likely will go to the Bloomington City Council at its July 27 meeting. That will give the liquor commission time to hold a public hearing on July 14.

"I like the tradition and I would rather keep it at noon," said Liquor Commissioner Rich Buchanan. "But I can't think of any good reason to keep it at noon."

Buchanan said the noon start time dates back to about 1977 when the council was considering allowing alcohol sales on Sundays.

John Payne, store director for the Oakland Avenue Jewel/Osco, said the grocery chain's two stores in Bloomington lose a considerable amount of business on Sunday mornings. The Veterans Parkway Jewel/Osco is hit especially hard because the Meijer store is across College Avenue in Normal, where the sale of alcohol starts several hours earlier.

Payne initially asked the commission to consider a 7 a.m. start to be consistent with Normal. Alcohol sales there can start at 7 a.m. every day, including Sundays.

Steve Stockton, who as mayor serves at a city liquor commissioner, suggested 6 a.m. to be consistent with the liquor sales hours allowed for the rest of the week in Bloomington.

Liquor Commissioner Steve Peterson voted against the change, saying he would rather see a 10 a.m. start time.

Tim Davis, from the Hangar, a restaurant at Central Illinois Regional Airport, said the extra Sunday hours will help bring in more customers from the early flights. City liquor codes now allow the sale of alcohol to begin at 5 a.m. every day but Sunday at the airport to accommodate passengers for early flights, which begin at 6 a.m.

"We want to have the most opportunity to make our business successful," Davis said.

Stockton said the current noon start time hinders many Bloomington restaurants that serve brunch and early lunches on Sundays.

The commission is recommending the change be applied to all classifications of liquor licenses that are already approved for Sunday sales.

When contacted after the meeting, Loreta Jent of the Normal Women's Christian Temperance Union said expanding the hours of alcohol sales will only expand the problems.

"Alcohol eats away, spiritually, morally, physically and mentally from the lifeblood of our community," Jent said. "Whenever there is more access to alcohol there are always more problems."