Residents will be able to walk into stores all over the county on Sunday, April 8 and purchase an alcoholic beverage if they so choose.

The Pike County Commission voted 4-2 in favor of allowing Sunday alcohol sales at their meeting Monday after a bill worked it’s way through the state legislature authorizing the vote.

The two commissioners that voted against the resolution, Chad Copeland and Russell Johnson, said they voted in opposition based on the method the commission chose to take.

“I think we need to make our businesses in the county whole,” said Copeland, commissioner for District 4. “I just wish we would do it by referendum.”

Johnson was the only commissioner to vote against the commission’s resolution in December seeking authorization from the state to hold a referendum or a commission vote on the issue. “I would wholeheartedly support this if it was to ask to hold a referendum,” Johnson said at the December vote.

Commissioners Charlie Harris, Homer Wright and Jimmy Barron had already made known their support of voting directly on the issue and Chairman Robin Sullivan joined them Monday night to give the commission a majority.

The resolution follows closely if not exactly to the City of Troy’s regulations regarding Sunday alcohol sales.

Sales will be allowed after noon in the same manner as other days of the week except by lounges and bars, which will be allowed to sell alcoholic beverages after 2 p.m. and ending at 10 p.m. except on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and the Fourth of July, if any of those holidays should fall on a Sunday. In those cases, they would not be required to stop selling at noon.

County business owners have said that allowing Troy businesses to sell alcohol on Sundays created an imbalance for county owners trying to compete.

“It puts us at a disadvantage if people can go a mile up the road and get it,” said Kenny Pinckard, owner of Pinckard’s gas station on the corner of Enzor Road and Alabama Highway 87. “They aren’t just going to get their alcohol there, they’re going to get their gas, snacks and anything else there too.”

Pinckard said his proximity to Troy creates confusion for customers and many lost sales because alcohol is obtainable so nearby.

The policy will not go into effect on Sunday, April 1 as Harris, who first brought forward the policy, requested that Easter Sunday be respected.