UPDATE 12:43 p.m.: We have attached a copy of the Executive Order below, which states that all vendors licensed to sell alcoholic beverages who derive more than 50 percent of their income from such sales shall suspend sales for consumption on the premises. Bars are still allowed to sell beverages to-go and restaurants that make less than 50 percent of gross revenue from alcohol are still allowed to sell for on-site consumption.
UPDATE 12:30 p.m.: Governor Ron DeSantis will be hosting a press conference at 12:30 p.m. 3 p.m. to discuss recent events and you can tune in HERE on his Facebook page.
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (Website) has shut down on-site alcohol consumption at bars across the state, effective immediately.
The announcement came at 11 a.m. Friday, June 26 as the Florida Department of Health reported 8,942 new confirmed coronavirus cases.
Details are still pending on how this announcement will be applied to restaurants and how it will be enforced. A report by WCTV quotes DBPR Secretary Halsey Beshears saying that the order is for bars only, not restaurants that serve alcohol.
We have a copy of the order below or download via the link provided.
This is absolutely ridiculous. Unless you apply these orders equally to all businesses (and age groups) you will only be inflicting financial injury on a certain class of business. Bar patrons simply move to the restaurants to get their fix. This does not address the rampant spread at all. What about gyms, grocery stores, home improvement stores. The virus does not pick one over the other. Either close every single business for the next 14 days (globally, by the way) and confine the population to their homes or open up for business with sensible guidelines. I think we know which one is the most sensible solution.