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Bars in Florida can no longer serve alcohol for 'on-premises consumption' amid COVID-19 spike

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The state of Florida is once again suspending the consumption of alcohol on the premises at bars amid a spike in COVID-19 cases.

The state's Department of Business and Professional Regulation made the announcement Friday morning.

The news comes as Florida continues to set records for daily increases in COVID-19 cases, with Friday's numbers showing nearly 9,000 new cases.

In the emergency order, Halsey Beshears, Secretary of Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation orders the following:

  • Vendors licensed to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on their premises, that derive more their 50% of gross revenue from those sales, have to suspend the sales of alcohol for consumption on the premises
  • Those vendors may continue to sell alcoholic beverages in sealed containers for consumption off the premises
  • Restaurants may continue to sell alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption as long as 50% or less of their gross revenue comes from the sale of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption

Read the order below

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.

The order goes into effect immediately.

WFTS was first to report this story.

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