Florida Bans Consumption of Alcohol at Bars Statewide

As Florida record almost 9,000 COVID-19 cases in a day, the state has suspended the consumption of alcohol at bars, effectively immediately.

Following the reopening of bars three weeks ago, many establishments throughout the state had to close shortly afterwards, following reports of confirmed COVID-19 cases among their employees.

“Effective immediately, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation is suspending on premises consumption of alcohol at bars statewide,‘' according to a tweet from Halsey Beshears, secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

The order, signed by Beshears but not Gov. Ron DeSantis, said bars can still sell alcohol to-go and restaurants can continue to serve drinks as long as they don’t get more than half of their revenue from alcohol.

It defines a bar as a place that earns more than 50% of its money from alcohol. No changes have been made for restaurants.

The order said so many bars and vendors throughout the state were not following reopening guidelines that it made enforcement efforts “impractical and insufficient.”

View the order here: http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/os/documents/EO_2020-09.pdf