LaSalle able to sell liquor early during World Cup, permits province

Bars in LaSalle will be able to begin serving liquor at 9 a.m.for the next month, but the City of Windsor will have to wait.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario is allowing the earlier start because of the World Cup.

The soccer tournament kicks off in Russia Thursday, with many of the matches happening during the morning.

LaSalle Mayor Ken Antaya saidtown council had no objections to the AGCO decision, so a notice of the policy was simply "received" at a meeting Tuesday night.

"We just didn't have much of a discussion," said Antaya."The council just looked at it and said, 'It makes sense.'"

Antaya expects not just bars, but golf courses in the town, will take advantage of the relaxed liquor rules during the weeks ahead.

"Just in LaSallealone we have three golf courses they start their day at seven o'clock in the morning," he said.

The World Cup is on from June 15 until July 15, and the permission will stand for the duration of the games.

Meanwhile, Windsor city council will not have a chance to look at the issue until next Monday after the World Cup is well underway.