Before you go, tell us how you really feel about living in Chicago.
Have you ever rolled up to an early Sunday morning brunch and been disgruntled to find that mimosas (or Bloody Marys, or bellinis) aren’t on the menu just yet? You’re in luck, boozy brunch enthusiast: City Council voted Wednesday to allow restaurants to begin selling liquor at 9am on Sundays, a full hour earlier than was previously permitted.
You can thank the rising tide of European soccer fans—who hit the bars early to catch overseas games—for the switch. Alderman Michele Smith of the 43rd Ward co-sponsored the proposal, arguing that the earlier start time would allow local eateries to bolster sales.
“Because of the growing popularity of watching games from Europe, many of our establishments would like to open up a little bit earlier to be able to play the games, and of course, have brunch,” Smith said in a February 13 committee meeting.
Bars with a license to serve food, currently disallowed from selling liquor before 11am, will also be able to sell liquor starting at 9am.
The change is part of a slow wave of updates to Chicago’s blue laws. In 2014, City Council approved an ordinance allowing large supermarkets to begin selling packaged liquor at 8am on Sundays; the law was expanded further to include smaller supermarkets last year.
The new amendment officially went into effect Wednesday, according to the text of the ordinance. Happy boozy brunching, Chicagoans.