COLUMBIA, S.C. - A hearing for several Greenville stores that could affect Sunday alcohol sales across the state has been postponed.

An administrative law judge was set to hear cases Monday involving five Piedmont Petroleum stores that want to sell beer on Sundays.

But Judge Marvin "Buddy" Kittrell postponed the hearings to have the entire administrative law judge panel hear the cases, clerk Jana Shealy said.

The hearing has not been rescheduled, Shealy said.

The ruling could affect cities and counties across the state that already have Sunday sales, according to the state Revenue Department.

The Greenville stores are asking for the permits after the state ruled in June that convenience stores and groceries in more than a dozen counties could sell beer and wine on Sundays because they had approved Sunday sales in restaurants and bars in the past decade.

But those permits could be in jeopardy if the court rules differently on the Greenville licenses, the Revenue Department has said.