Charleston is on track to legalize Sunday morning alcohol sales by the beginning of next week.
City Council's Committee on Rules and Ordinances was the final step before its "brunch bill" goes to the Council floor next Monday for a full vote.
The committee voted Tuesday in favor of the bill, which will allow restaurants, private clubs and other establishments to serve alcohol on Sundays starting at 10 a.m. - as long as they have a West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration Class A license.
"I think this is either the second or third time we've discussed this bill because of the procedure required by the [state] Home Rule board," said Councilman Jack Harrison, who leads the committee.
The Municipal Home Rule Board approved Charleston's amendment to its Home Rule plan to allow such an ordinance at its July 11 meeting.
It approved similar amendments to allow Sunday morning alcohol sales for South Charleston, Lewisburg, Bluefield, Martinsburg and Clarksburg.
It's likely that the bill will pass when Council meets Aug. 1.
According to the city's charter, the ordinance will take effect immediately if it's passed by at least three-fifths of the elected members.
The only Council member to vote against the bill during the process has been Rev. James Ealy, who cited his service as a pastor as the reason for his opposition.
Ealy has said he has "no issue with alcohol," but "anything I do to help you not attend church is an issue."
The ordinance will allow liquor, as well as beer and wine sales on Sunday mornings.