Canadian County voters approve Sunday alcohol sales before 2 p.m. in restaurants

If you live in Canadian County, soon you’ll be able to enjoy some alcohol with your Sunday brunch at a restaurant for the first time. On Tuesday, the Canadian County voters approved a measure allowing restaurants serve alcoholic drinks before 2 p.m. on Sunday. 

CANADIAN COUNTY (KFOR) - If you live in Canadian County, soon you’ll be able to enjoy some alcohol with your Sunday brunch at a restaurant for the first time. On Tuesday, the Canadian County voters approved a measure allowing restaurants serve alcoholic drinks before 2 p.m. on Sunday. 

“We're very excited about the vote and the way it turned out,” said Roger Smith, owner of The Lokal restaurants in Yukon and Mustang. 

Roger Smith, owner of The Lokal restaurants in Yukon and Mustang said it’s about time the long 40-year-old Sunday liquor law has been laid to rest. 

Smith says he’s been behind getting it on the ballot for years.  

“We have a lot of customers here in Yukon that basically are going to Oklahoma City on Saturday and Sunday mornings because we don't have a brunch... So, we decided we needed to get really big, get behind this,” said Smith. 

Before the vote, Canadian County restaurants couldn’t serve alcohol until 2 p.m. on Sundays. It was also the only county in Oklahoma with such a rule.  

“We've had several commissioners that come through. And I guess the thing is, is nobody's really pushed it from the commissioner standpoint,” said Tomas Manske, Canadian County Commissioner, District 1.  

Canadian County Commissioner Tomas Manske says it was time to leave the decision up to the voters. 

“When I came into office over a year ago, I started in January of 2023. And one of the issues that a lot of constituents asked me about was this specific issue dealing with serving on Sundays before 2:00. We're losing a lot of constituents that go into Oklahoma City to have brunch, to watch football. And so, as I looked at that, the only thing that was holding it up was the commissioners... We think it's going to create a great economic impact for our county and all the towns involved,” said Manske. 

Smith says before the vote they were losing business on Sundays, so this change is going to positively impact small restaurants across the county.  

“Our crowd on Sunday was 10 to 15% less than Saturday when actually that's not typically the case... It'll help everybody in the county,” said Smith.  

Those in favor say it’s a win-win for everyone. Residents can stay local, businesses will benefit, and the county will see more money through the liquor tax.  

“That's going to create a tax base for all of our communities, especially over here on the east side of Canadian County. It's going to make a good impact for all the communities as well as the county, and it's going to keep them over here,” said Manske. 

The Lokal restaurant will soon open earlier on Sundays, plus they are adding a brunch menu with a variety of morning cocktails.  

Canadian County officials told News 4 it will likely take 60 to 90 days before the law goes into effect.