Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation has announced the suspension of alcohol sales at bars for “on-premises consumption” throughout the state until August 1, 2020.
Restaurants can still serve alcohol as long as alcohol sales do not derive more than 50% of their gross revenue. This order affects stand alone bars not restaurants that serve alcohol.
Sebastian bar owners are still reading over details this hour from an executive order that was sent to businesses this morning.
“Establishments that derive more than 50% of their gross revenue from the sales of alcohol beverages must suspend sales of alcohol for consumption on the premises,” officials said.
But the executive order does leave room for Sebastian bars to sell beverages in sealed containers.
The announcement means that local pubs Mash Monkeys and Pareidolia can still do packaging and sell their beers to go for offsite consumption. Since the coronavirus pandemic, the pubs have been selling growlers.
Pareidolia Brewing Company can still serve craft beer at tables inside because they have a food license.
“These establishments can continue to sell beverages in sealed containers for consumption off-premises (package sales). Establishments that are also licensed as public food service establishments or restaurants under Chapter 509 can continue to operate for on-premises consumption of food and alcoholic beverages at tables consistent with the requirements of Executive Order 20-139, so long as they derive 50% or less of gross revenue from the sale of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption,” the executive order says.
Sebastian Daily is working to gather more information at this time.
The decision comes after Florida had nearly 9,000 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, nearly doubling its new record.