PRATTVILLE — Sunday off premise alcohol sales are a go in all of Prattville.

The law that allows Sunday sales from retail stores with valid state issued liquor licenses goes in effect Aug. 1. Sales will be allowed with no time constraints.

The city council approved the move during the board’s Tuesday night meeting. The ordinance passed 6-0-1 with District 3 Councilwoman Denise Brown abstaining. She serves as executive director of the Autauga Interfaith Care Center, a nondenominational charity. She said she felt it would be best to abstain from the vote.

“Now the playing field is even,” said District 4 Councilman Jerry Starnes, who sponsored the ordinance. “We don’t have businesses on one side of an imaginary line selling on Sunday, and businesses on the other side of that same imaginary line not being able to sell alcohol on Sunday.”

Last year the same council approved off premise Sunday sales in the Elmore County portion of Prattville, after the Elmore County Commission got Legislative approval to allow the sales.

At that time, Prattville would also have to seek Legislative approval for Sunday sales. The law was changed during the most recent Legislative session to allow the council to OK Sunday sales by a simple majority vote.

It’s about time, said Brad Clark, of Prattville.

“It was ridiculous that I could buy beer on Sunday at Publix, but not at Wal-Mart and Winn Dixie,” he said.

Prattville approved on premise Sunday sales, at bars and restaurants, more than 10 years ago.

Tuesday’s move shows Prattville is “growing up,” said Leigh Emmerson, a Prattville native.

“I can remember back in the late 80s and early 90s that the councils then wouldn’t even approve liquor license requests for restaurants,” she said. “Once Sunday sales at restaurants were approved, I figured it would be no time before Sunday sales at stores would go in. I guess it’s better late than never.”

Previous councils had wrangled with the issue but never sought the required Legislative approval. The councils balked at the expected public backlash of retail sales on Sunday.

Tuesday night’s council action couldn’t have gone any smoother. The ordinance was introduced. The council’s operating rules had to be suspended before action could be taken during that meeting. Otherwise the vote would have been delayed to the first council meeting in August.

The rules were suspended, and the vote was taken with no discussion. The whole process took less than five minutes.