COVINGTON, Ga. – When Covington voters go to the polls in November they will be doing more than electing a mayor and three council members.

Voters will also have the opportunity to decide if people can get an alcoholic drink earlier than the current 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. Council members agreed Tuesday to place a referendum on earlier sales on this fall's ballot.

If approved by voters, the measure, dubbed the “Brunch Bill,” would move up the time that alcoholic drinks could be sold and served in the city’s restaurants and hotels 90 minutes from 12:30 p.m. to 11 a.m.

In order to comply with the law, an establishment would have to garner at least 50 percent of its annual gross sales from the sale of prepared meals, or from the rental of rooms for overnight lodging.

The possible change came about as the result of legislation passed by the Georgia General Assembly last year authorizing municipalities to permit and regulate Sunday sales of distilled spirits and alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises from 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.