Florida Bars Forbidden to Serve Alcohol

[SoWal Staff]

According to the Florida Department of Business and Profession Regulation, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, the department will be suspending on premises consumption of alcohol at bars statewide.

i.e. businesses that derive more than 50% of gross revenue from sales of alcoholic beverages.

For clarification, no updates have been made pertaining to restaurants that are licensed to serve alcohol. The executive order regarding restaurants can be found here: https://bit.ly/3g4pR58

As the situation progresses and more information is released, we will keep you updated. Please visit the FDBPR website for more information: http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/

 

[bob bob]

All bars across the state of Florida can no longer serve alcohol for "on premises consumption."

Halsey Beshears, the secretary of Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation, announced Friday that the state is "suspending on premises consumption of alcohol at bars statewide."

The order goes into effect immediately.

The order cites younger individuals "who have disregarded the restrictions" set forth by the state to combat the spread of the coronavirus as a reason for the action.

"Based on recent increases in COVID-19 cases and non-compliance with previous orders, DBPR has taken action to suspend on-premises alcohol sales at bars," Beshears said in a written statement. "DBPR believes this is a necessary step to take to protect public health as we continue working in partnership with industry and health officials to combat COVID-19."

Sixty-four counties in Florida, excluding Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, are currently under Phase Two of Florida's reopening plan, meaning restaurants may allow bar-top seating with appropriate social distancing, and bars and pubs may operate at 50% capacity inside and full capacity outside with appropriate social distancing.

According to the latest numbers from the Florida Department of Health on Friday, there are 122,960 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, a record increase of 8,942 cases from the day before.

 

[Teresa]

Florida is exploding in daily cases with many young people out and about and being infected, which will in turn infect more older people. And I hope closing bars is just one of the strategies. Many local cities are requiring masks and taking other measures.