GRAND ISLAND, Neb. – Hours are changing for available alcohol sales on Sundays in Grand Island after the Grand Island City Council approved a change Tuesday night. Previously, locations were not permitted to make alcohol sales before noon, but the new provision allows for on-site consumption starting at 9 a.m.

The City Council had been presented with the option of a vote earlier this month, but the council delayed action to allow time to discuss with local police and city authorities.

The council was given three options at Tuesday’s meeting. The first option would have allowed all locations to make alcohol sales starting at 9 a.m. on Sunday. The second option made the change to only allow for businesses with on-site consumption to make earlier sales, leaving other stores and shops to continue holding off on sales until noon. The third option was to avoid making any changes.

The council voted for the first option, allowing changes across the board, despite the protestations of Grand Island Police Chief Robert Falldorf. He encouraged the council to avoid making any changes, stating that he believed DUIs would go up.

Mayor Roger Steele then vetoed the council’s 7-to-3 vote for universal changes. After the veto, the council then voted 9-to-1 for the second option, permitting early sales at businesses that allow on-site consumption.