CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — Mimosas and Bloody Marys may become a Sunday morning staple in West Virginia now that Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has signed the so-called “brunch bill” into law.
The measure (SB 298) allows for alcohol sales to begin at 10 a.m. on Sundays at restaurants, private clubs and wineries.
The current law that prohibits those sales before 1 p.m.
“I don’t think, generally, (people) were getting the whole point of it,” Annette Gavin, CEO of the Jefferson County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau told Hoppy Kercheval on “Talkline” Wednesday. “it wasn’t about the alcohol sales, it was always about the economic driver that is tourism.”
Gavin said tourism is vital to Jefferson County, and that success there is good for the state.
“Jefferson County has the highest visitor spend in the state, and we give the most back,” she said.
David Wojnar with the Distilled Spirits Council quantified the impact the law change may have on alcohol sales.
“It would add over $1 million to the general fund of the state,” Wojnar said.
Wojnar’s group predicts a five to seven percent lift in sales because of the law change.
The bill includes a county vote requirement, which was added by the House of Delegates after the bill unanimously passed the Senate during the regular session.Gavin says Jefferson County will vote on the measure as soon as possible.
“We’re dead on in making sure that this gets on the ballot for the November election.”
She said that is the soonest they’d be able to vote.