WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Sunday is brunch day, and for some people that means having a mimosa pitcher with their food platter.
In 2018, the state of Georgia passed the brunch bill, allowing individual cities and counties to vote on whether or not restaurants can serve alcohol starting at 11 a.m. on Sunday instead of 12:30 p.m.
Starting October 16, Warner Robins early voters can cast their decisions.
"People seem to enjoy their mimosas with their brunch, it's a very important part of it," Cathy Reece, owner of PROPS Steak and Seafood Restaurant said.
However, Reece says since they can't pour drinks until after noon, it leaves some of their visitors unhappy.
"A handful of times we get the comment we should have gone to Macon, and that's fantastic for our friends in Macon, but probably we've lost that customer," Reece said.
Sunday is their only day for brunch, and it's often slower until they can serve. Reece says the extra hour and a half would mean a big difference in revenue.
"Maybe 15-20% were losing," she said.
Reece says on Sundays, Warner Robins businesses find themselves at an economic disadvantage, so the brunch bill would mend the gap.
"All of our neighbors have it going on, so this is really a chance for Warner Robins to pull into the present," she said.
Around 60 businesses in town are impacted by the serving hours.
"With the base being right there, a lot of people aren't familiar with our local alcohol sales law, so they'll come in and find out they can't have one here, but again, they can go down the street. So why stick in Warner Robins," Christopher Smith general manager with Tap & Pour said.
He says with their special craft beers their revenue mostly comes from alcohol sales.
"We probably do anywhere from $10 - $13,000 a week in alcohol sales," he said.
He says if the bill passes, they could use the additional revenue for labor costs.
"In the restaurant business, you want to have alcohol and food sales enough to match the labor that your spending on your employees in the kitchen and it's an extra buffer zone for us," he said.
Reece says this would give the community the tools to want to support local, it's not about drinking at 11:00 a.m., but giving folks people the option to drink.
The brunch bill would not affect grocery store hours. They still would not be able to sell until 12:30 p.m.