By: Shelia Mader
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation has suspended alcohol consumption at all bars throughout the State of Florida as coronavirus cases continue to increase.The Department of Business and Professional Regulation made the announcement via Twitter on Friday that it was suspending on-premises consumption of alcohol at bars statewide. There was no warning and no grace as the suspension went into effect immediately.
The Florida DBPR has not issued an official press release with details so it’s not clear at this point what this means for breweries, restaurants and other businesses that serve alcohol. We also don’t know if this means Florida’s bars will be allowed to serve alcohol to go like they were during the statewide shutdown. Florida coronavirus: State reports record 8,942 new cases in single day.Governor Ron DeSantis had hinted that he would suspend licenses of any bar or restaurant not following coronavirus guidelines earlier this week. Secretary Halsey Beshears of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation announced the officers with the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco would be out from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. every night checking bars and restaurants.A reminder was issued on Twitter Thursday that restaurants and bars were only allowed to operate at 50% capacity indoors.
Friday’s announcement came shortly after the Department of Health reported a record 8,942 new coronavirus cases. The total number of cases Florida has reported since the beginning of the pandemic is now 122,960.
As of Friday morning, Florida residents in the 25 to 34 age group account for the highest percentage of the state’s coronavirus cases. A total of 23,495 Floridians in that age group have tested positive, which is 19% of the total.
