Extended drinking hours approved

Historic City News listened as County Commissioners extolled the benefits of extending the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in St. Johns County for an additional hour; effective December 19th.

On a motion by Commissioner Bryan, seconded by Commissioner Miner, and unanimously approved by the Board, bars and restaurants who serve alcohol will be granted an additional hour to serve patrons, on a temporary basis, if their establishment is located in St. Johns County but not located within the city limits of a municipality with a more restrictive ordinance.

Ironically, perhaps, only two bar owners made public comments in support of the ordinance — one who was located in the City of St. Augustine Beach and the other who owns three locations in the City of St. Augustine, neither of which will be effected.

Florida Statute provides for the sale of alcoholic beverages between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and midnight unless otherwise provided by local ordinance. For the past nineteen years, and currently, St. Johns County allows alcohol sales between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m. on the following morning.

Alcoholic beverages may be sold and consumed in designated, licensed establishments until 2:00 a.m. during the temporary extension.

The effective dates for the temporary extension of hours cited will be from 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 19, 2009, through, and until 2:00 a.m. on Monday, July 12, 2010.