TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Residents across Florida are getting their last call.
Halsey Beshears, the secretary of the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation, announced on Twitter that on premises consumption of alcohol has now been suspended at bars all across the state.
The order goes into effect immediately.
Effective immediately, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation is suspending on premises consumption of alcohol at bars statewide.
— HalseyBeshears (@HalseyBeshears) June 26, 2020
The order applies to any vendor who "derives more than 50 percent of gross revenue from the sale of alcoholic beverages." That means restaurants can still sell alcohol and food at tables, so long as they don't make more than 50 percent of their gross revenue on alcohol sales.
Both bars and restaurants will still be allowed to serve alcohol for takeout.
“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 wrote in a 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.”
To read the full executive order, click here.
The decision comes as the state sets another grim record for the biggest single-day increase in cases since the start of the pandemic.
Bars were allowed to reopen earlier this month as part of Governor DeSantis' Phase 2 of reopening. It is unclear at this time if any of the other Phase 2 reopenings will be impacted by this.
This is a developing news story. Stay with us for updates.
