Brevard Commissioners Approve Proposal to Allow Restaurants, Bars to Sell Alcohol 24/7 in Unincorporated Areas

By  //  March 23, 2021

next scheduled commission meeting set for April 6 at 5 p.m.

ABOVE VIDEO: Brevard County Commission Holds Meeting in Viera on Tuesday. Commissioners discuss the ordinance at time marker 2:04:10.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Brevard County Commission unanimously approved a proposal 5-0 to allow restaurants and bars to sell alcohol between 2 a.m.- 7 a.m. in unincorporated areas within Brevard County.

The new ordinance must be voted on by the commissioners one more time before it goes into effect.

If final approval is given, the ordinance paves way for businesses to sell alcohol 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

The next scheduled commission meeting is currently set for April 6 at 5 p.m.

The proposal was brought forward by Commissioner John Tobia who argued that as a conservative, he strongly believes in removing pointless regulations.

“This would increase the freedom of residents, visitors, and business-owners in Brevard County,” said Tobia.

The proposal would have no impact on municipalities, according to Commissioner Tobia.

Commissioner John Tobia is proposing an amendment to Brevard County Ordinance that would allow for expanded hours of alcohol sales at bars and restaurants.

“After speaking with Sheriff Wayne Ivey about this, it sounds like he is not in opposition to this,” said Commissioner Tobia.

Florida Statute Section 562.14 sets out default regulations regarding the time for sale of alcoholic beverages.

However, it allows counties and municipalities to provide for less restrictive regulations.

Currently, Section 6-3 of Brevard County Code of Ordinances does this, providing for the restriction of alcohol sales between 2:00 am and 7:00 am (on New Year’s Day, 2 additional hours are provided for).

Advocates claim the new ordinance could be a boost for businesses who have been hard hit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commissioner Curt Smith also liked the idea that the ordinance will allow people to leave at different times of the night as opposed to everyone at the bars leaving at the same time and being on the road around the same time.

“If bars are open longer, people will leave when they want to leave,” said Commissioner Smith.

“They won’t all be leaving at the same time and won’t all be on the road at the same time so I think this is a great ordinance.”

Commissioner Curt Smith also liked the idea that the ordinance will allow people to leave at different times of the night as opposed to everyone at the bars leaving at the same time and being on the road around the same time.

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