South Florida City Issues New Sales Hours Aimed At Tightening Alcohol Sales

Doral, FL - A South Florida city has implemented new sales hours and regulations aimed at curbing alcohol-related issues.

Effective October 1st, the city of Doral will limit alcohol sales hours and impose stricter security requirements on late-night establishments.

Bars with extended hours permits will now be required to stop serving alcohol by 2:30 AM, a significant rollback from the previous cutoff time of 3:50 AM.

All other bars must cease alcohol service by 1:30 AM.

To obtain an extended hours permit, establishments must submit an approved security plan to the police department.

This plan will require the presence of at least one security guard on-site, the use of metal detecting wands for all customers, and sufficient security cameras to monitor the entire premises.

These new regulations follow the tragic mass shooting at The Martini Bar in April, which resulted in two deaths and several injuries.

In response, the city introduced the ordinance in June, but The Martini Bar subsequently filed a lawsuit challenging the grandfathering clause.

The lawsuit was dismissed in August, and Gastesi, the city attorney, stated that any potential appeal could delay the implementation of the new rules for at least 45 days.

The city has made it clear that these measures are intended to prioritize public safety, even if they may have a negative impact on business revenue.

However, some local business owners, such as Doral Yard CEO Danny Ruiz, have expressed concerns about the potential costs and challenges associated with complying with the new regulations.

Despite the opposition from some businesses, the City of Doral remains committed to implementing these stricter alcohol sales and security measures.

Non-compliance with the new rules could result in fines of up to $1,000 per day or even arrest.