TRYON – After tabling the decision last month, the Town of Tryon approved the Brunch Bill this week that will allow businesses to begin serving alcohol at 10 a.m. on Sundays instead of noon.

Tryon Town Council met Tuesday, Sept. 19 and approved an ordinance amendment by a 3-1 vote. Commissioners Crys Armbrust, Bill Crowell and Bill Ingham voted in favor of the amendment and commissioner Chrelle Booker voted against.

Tryon council discussed the Brunch Bill last month but had some questions, including whether they could change the time from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and whether or not the town could only allow restaurants to follow the new rule.

Tryon attorney William Morgan told council on Tuesday that he’d been in touch with the N.C. School of Government on the town’s questions.

“I assumed the answer was no and confirmed that with the school of government,” Morgan said. “There’s no room for changing it at all. It’s either 10 a.m. for all permit holders or nothing.”

Ingham said he was a little opposed to the bill last month because of the retailers being able to sell alcohol at 10 a.m., but after speaking with several people and the IGA and convenience store, he changed his mind.

Ingham said he was told by the IGA when South Carolina began selling alcohol earlier on Sundays, they lost $1,200-$1,500 in sales every month. Ingham said the reason is because people aren’t just going into grocery stores to purchase beer and wine; they buy other things as well.

North Carolina recently approved legislation to change the time restaurants and retailers can serve alcohol with the decision being a local one for towns that allow alcohol sales.

Saluda approved the Brunch Bill in August. The subject has not come up in Columbus.