Lake Wales and Dundee didn't descend into bastions of impenitent sin when they relaxed their alcohol laws, so there's no good reason for Lakeland to keep sales of Sunday brunch mimosas banned before noon, resident Brandi Dunn told the City Commission on Monday.

LAKELAND — Lake Wales and Dundee didn't descend into bastions of impenitent sin when they relaxed their alcohol laws, so there's no good reason for Lakeland to keep sales of Sunday brunch mimosas banned before noon, resident Brandi Dunn told the City Commission on Monday.



"This might seem like a petty grievance, but it's been happening for years for no real reason," Dunn said.



It's a law that has created a number of second trips to the supermarket when the cashier removes the bottle of pinot from the cart with an apology, Dunn said.



"I can't tell you how many times I've heard this same complaint from others," she said.



In Lakeland, it's illegal to sell any alcohol, packaged or by-the-drink, between 2 a.m. and noon Sunday. Sales by the drink stop at midnight on Sunday, except on Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and St. Patrick's Day that fall on Sunday, exemptions added in 2000.



Package sales of drinks containing 14 percent alcohol or more by weight are not allowed any time after 2 a.m. Sunday.



Dundee relaxed its laws in 1984. Lake Wales did the same in 2009.



"As far as I'm aware neither Lake Wales or Dundee have had an increase in crime from removing the ordinance," Dunn said.



Commissioner Don Selvage proposed all of Lakeland's so-called "blue laws," anti-vice laws with a moral bent, get a thorough onceover.



Because of the interpretative nature of what makes a law "blue," the City Commission instead focused the request on the city's alcohol laws.



It would give the commission the opportunity to "maybe bringing it into this century and this timeframe in our city," Commissioner Jim Malless said.



Rather than complicate the resolution of a simple issue, Commissioner Justin Troller urged his colleagues to go ahead and vote to suspend the law in preparation for repeal.



City Attorney Tim McCausland said the city should follow its normal procedure including a first reading and a public hearing on the potential change before the law could be stricken or modified.



The city's alcohol laws are contained in Chapter 6 of the municipal code. Not only do the laws say when alcohol can be purchased, but where, through zoning and distance to church or school restrictions.



Some restrictions depend on the alcohol content by weight and there are special exemptions and rules for city-owned properties, motels and the downtown district.



Changes would also have to be reflected in the city's building codes, Community Development Director Jim Studiale said, which could add more steps to a repeal process.



Open it all up, Malless said, including how the city handles bars downtown. Otherwise, the commission will be hearing complaints every six months until the city's laws more closely resemble today's cultural mores.



Interim City Manager Tony Delgado said the city staff would hold a workshop soon.



"I know that as commissioners it's not very often you get an opportunity to do something that benefits the residents and businesses of Lakeland that costs nothing," Dunn said. "This is one of those opportunities."



It won't be the first time the commission has taken a look at the law. In 2000, it added the holiday exception and in 1984, it voted 4-3 to keep the Sunday before-noon ban.



Florida state law allows counties and municipalities to set their own laws about when alcohol can be sold, but in absence of a local ordinance, state law restricts purchasing of alcohol by the drink or packaged alcohol between the hours of 1 and 7 a.m. seven days a week.



— Christopher Guinn can be reached at Christopher.Guinn@theledger.com or 863-802-7592. Follow him on Twitter @CGuinnNews.