Bradenton bars and restaurants require new permit to serve alcohol past midnight

BRADENTON, Fla. (WFLA) —Bars and restaurants across Bradenton are now required to have a permit to serve alcohol past midnight.

However, there’s another ordinance that’s under consideration that could tighten restrictions even more.

Officials are desperately trying to find new ways to curb the escalating tension when massive crowds settle into the downtown district on weekend nights.

Last month Bradenton Police Capt. Brian Thiers presented a series of concerning videos to the city council.  The scenes were captured from several officer body cameras after late night brawls turned violent.

Most of the incidents took place shortly before bars and restaurants stopped serving alcohol around 2:30 a.m.

“This encompassed our entire police force from the city that evening to get this crowd under control,” said Capt. Brian Thiers.  “While that was happening, the following calls were held – a harassment call, a domestic battery, a suspicious person with three suspects going through vehicles, an abandoned 911 call, another domestic battery.”

Some city leaders believe curbing alcohol sales may help control the crowds.

“This will provide better security, better public safety, and really put the onus on those alcohol establishments to ensure that they’re operating properly,” said Rob Perry, City Administrator of Bradenton.

However, several businesses owners also voiced their concerns during the public comment portion of the meeting.

“We had meetings four or five years ago with city officials asking that we do something because we saw this was going to happen,” said James Miller, owner of Cork’s Cigar Bar.  “We did not want an Ybor City, and that was our exact terminology. Here we are today going down that path.”

Some are asking city leaders to conduct more research in order to determine if the impact these policies will have on their bottom line.

“Does that mean the alcohol beverage license is immediately affected?” asked Joseph Bennett, owner of Pour Decisions Saloon.  “Can the city provide a small grace period for implementing this? I have staff who rely on income from alcohol beverage sales after midnight, which is primarily where most of their money is made.”

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