Let K be a field of characteristic 3 and let G be a non-abelian group. It is shown that the group algebra KG is Lie centrally metabelian if and only if the commutator subgroup G' is cyclic of order 3. In view of the results of R. K. Sharma and J. B. Srivastava (1992, J. Algebra 151, 476-486), this settles completely the characterization of Lie centrally metabelian group algebras in characteristic not equal to 2. (C) 1997 Academic Press