ATLANTA - A measure that would kick the question of Sunday alcohol sales to localities has been filed in the Georgia Senate, with a companion bill to be introduced in the House this week, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

"Perhaps it has a greater chance of passing this year than ever before," said Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers, one of the bill€™s sponsors.

But if such a measure passes, the fight for Sunday liquor sales would be fought on the local level, with counties and cities deciding when or even if to vote on changing the current law.

Many supporters and opponents say that with former Gov. Sonny Perdue out of office, the bill has a greater chance of passage. The current Georgia governor, Nathan Deal, has indicated support of localities deciding on Sunday liquor sales.

About a fourth of his store€™s weekly grocery sales happen on Sundays, said Daniel Thurman, manager of a Kroger store. Each Sunday, he has to reshelve 40 or 50 beer packs or wine bottles because customers forgot about the Sunday alcohol prohibition.

"They feel the law is ridiculous at this point, that it's outdated," he said. "We hear that mostly from people who only have time to do their shopping on Sunday. With a lot of people working two jobs, Sunday is their day off and the day to get their chores done."

Some liquor stores are joining churches and other conservative groups in opposing the change because they would have to be open for business an extra day. But convenience stores, led by the Georgia Convenience Store Association, and supermarkets, have been in favor of selling alcohol in Sundays.

Currently, only Connecticut, Georgia and Indiana curtail beer, spirits and wine sales on Sundays. Last week, a Connecticut lawmaker proposed legislation allowing liquor and grocery stores to sell alcohol on Sundays in that state.