The nightlife landscape in Winter Garden is set for a significant shift as the City Council has voted in favor of a new alcohol ordinance. Starting from January 1, 2025, the sale and consumption of alcohol in establishments will be curbed at midnight unless they possess a specially approved permit. The decisive move follows numerous complaints linked to alcohol-related disturbances.
The decision echoes the community’s concerns about the aftermath of nightly festivities and is an attempt to bring order. “It’s an accumulation of things based on the volume of police reports. It’s based on what we find as the aftermath in the morning, or the park staff has to clean up all of the detritus and junk from the night before and stuff that we caught on camera in the parking garage,” a Winter Garden spokesperson revealed, as per
WFTV
. The new directive, dubbed Ordinance 24-40, sees unanimous support from the council despite no showcase of evidence, such as videos or complaints during the council meeting.
Conversely, local businesses beg to differ with the imposed restrictions.
In an interview, according to
WFTV
, the owner of Lucky Straws Boba Tea Cafe conveyed disappointment, stating, “If we have the ability to stay open until two then it seems like another gatekeeping opportunity for the city when there is already a gate so to speak when it comes to the licenses.”
Meanwhile, a new three-strike and suspension policy will also kick in as a part of the ordinance.
As reported by
MyNews13
, the local businesses that will be most affected, namely Hagan O’Reilly’s Irish Pub, Mr. Shots Cantina, and others, will have to apply for an extension of hours permitted to sell alcohol until 2 a.m. This rule, however, applies exclusively to on-premises drinking and not to package sale vendors. The city has amended the ordinance to address vagueness, clarifying that violations traceable to an establishment can result in a suspension following a three-strikes rule.
Ultimately, the ordinance aims to realign the city’s priorities toward fostering a family-friendly atmosphere and public safety while potentially easing the burden on municipal funds used in responding to after-hours incidents. The new regulation could encourage self-regulation among establishments and reduce the frequency of late-night disturbances, as per the cited intent of the city’s legislation.
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