Late-night alcohol sales will continue in city

Historic City News looked on last night as St. Augustine city commissioners renewed an ordinance which extends sales of hard liquor, beer and wine until 2:00 in the morning.

The ordinance allows late-night alcohol sales in bars and restaurants within the city limits of St. Augustine; patterned after a similar ordinance already approved by St. Johns County commissioners and city commissioners at the City of St. Augustine Beach.

St. Augustine’s ordinance has been under evaluation since originally adopted, by unanimous 5-0 vote, at the city commission’s January 25th meeting.

All three local jurisdictions have similar ordinances; which take precedence over state laws that otherwise require a midnight “last call”.

“I don’t think we would be doing it if the county had not first extended hours”, incoming City Manager John Regan said. “It is to be consistent with the Beach and the county so people don’t leave St. Augustine bars early.”

Regan points out, “It’s not that you lose business between 1:00 and 2:00 a.m. — it’s that you lose customers from 10:00 to 11:00 p.m.”

Outgoing Commissioner Don Crichlow showed little concern in responding to Spanish Street resident Robert M. Hall; who reported that he suffers from increased noise at his home later at night. “If you live with six bars within a block of you, it goes with the territory.” Those sentiments were not shared by Commissioner Leanna Freeman — who said that she doesn’t take lightly the concerns from people who live downtown.

With Mayor Boles, Commissioners Crichlow and Jones already speaking in support of extended drinking hours in the city, Freeman voted to approve as did Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline.