Florida Set to Permanently Allow To-Go Alcoholic Drinks Post-Pandemic
On 4/28/21 at 5:44 PM EDT
The Florida legislature is set to pass a restaurant industry–backed bill which would extend the practice of allowing alcoholic beverages in to-go orders, a rule initially put in place as a means of helping struggling businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Florida GOP Governor Ron DeSantis last spring issued an executive order which has come to be know as the alcohol to go rule, which has allowed restaurants to sell boozy beverages alongside take-home orders during the pandemic. This week, Republican and Democratic state lawmakers alike are expected to give overwhelming final approval that will make the measure permanent into the post-pandemic era. DeSantis endorsed making the rule permanent during remarks last week.
Florida Senate passes bill allowing to-go alcoholic drink orders Kirby Wilson, Tampa Bay Times
TALLAHASSEE The bill passed the Florida Senate at about 4:50 p.m. just in time for happy hour.
Lawmakers on Wednesday approved Senate Bill 148, which would allow Floridians to buy alcoholic drinks in to-go and delivery orders from restaurants with some restrictions. For example, the bill would only allow restaurants with at least 2,500 square feet of dining area and a capacity of at least 150 to offer to-go alcohol.
Sen. Jennifer Bradley, R-Fleming Island, the bill’s sponsor, said that she modeled her legislation after a state emergency order from last March.
Bed Tax Money Would Be Used To Combat Flooding Under Florida House Proposal wlrn.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wlrn.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Updated Mar. 18
TALLAHASSEE â Last March, when the coronavirus arrived in Florida, state and local governments enacted policies that fundamentally changed how communities interact.
Most of the changes restricted the movement of people with the hope of saving lives. But some concessions made things more convenient
in a less personal society.
As lawmakers gather in Tallahassee, some of those convenient policy changes could be here to stay. Bills making their way through the Legislature would allow Floridians to continue to
get alcoholic drinks delivered from restaurants. Other legislation would expand access to telemedicine â even for pets. And yet another proposal would give students greater flexibility to learn virtually.