Sunday Alcohol bills advancing in legislature

The first of three Bills to allow Sunday alcohol sales in separate east Alabama cities has cleared a major hurdle in the legislature.  The Alabama Senate passed a bill Thursday that would allow stores in Piedmont to sell alcohol on any day of the week. The bill follows one the Senate quietly passed last month, which would allow voters in Lincoln to decide whether to approve Sunday sales. Another bill, filed this week, would allow Sunday sales in the small Coosa County town of Goodwater.  The Lincoln bill would allow that Talladega County city to hold a referendum on allowing sales of alcohol after noon on Sundays  and after 8 a.m. Sunday on weekends when "a major racing event" is held at the nearby Talladega Superspeedway.

Sen. Del Marsh, of Anniston, said he's simply standing aside and letting the city get what it asked for. Marsh sponsored a Sunday alcohol sales bill for Piedmont, which passed the Senate 18-1 with no debate Thursday.

Marsh, the president pro tempore of the Senate, sponsored bills last year to allow Sunday sales in Anniston and Weaver. The bills managed to pass the House despite opposition from half of Calhoun County's House delegation, a rarity in the Legislature.