When Will Bars Open?

When?  When can we open too, like the restaurants are?  This is a question that is being asked of me---on Facebook and also via email.  Folks want to know why there appears to be a double standard allowing "restaurants" to serve alcoholic beverages but not allowing bars and breweries to open to serve alcoholic beverages.

To me it is not unlike the illogical allowance of dental cleanings and procedures while simultaneously barbers were forbidden from opening to cut hair.  Or like hotels being able to cram hundreds of guests into small rooms, and turn over these rooms every couple of days--while the owners of larger condos and homes on the beach could NOT rent their properties on a short term basis.  Those both got fixed thankfully.  So now--why can a restaurant that sells LOTS of alcohol be allowed to serve guests cocktails and beers on a patio---yet the "Bar" next door that does not sell food but that has a patio cannot sell cocktails and beers to guests on their patio?

It is a fair question.  It needs to get fixed ASAP or some of these establishments will not reopen ever...

Albert asks me this in an email to my office Thursday:

"I am emailing you today as the owner of a bar in Downtown Pensacola called XXXXX located on Palafox Pl. We have been open for 10 years and my employees are asking me when we are going to re-open. Now I am calling on you for guidance on this issue. Every business around us, including restaurants, bars that have a food permit but are essentially operating as bars, gyms, and retail shops are open. In some cases, operating at full or even over capacity. We have been closed since March 16th, among the first industries to close and still have no clarity on when we can open, despite being one of only a few industries forced to remain closed. XXXXXXXXXXX. believes this policy may be discriminatory.

Please let me know if you can provide any clarity on this issue for me."

Neal asked me this on Facebook recently:

"With restaurants, beaches, stores and youth sports opening back up,  there are other small businesses that still are forced to remain closed. Many are family owned with no other income. There are nine breweries in the area, and only a few  serve food, all with ample room for people to spread out indoors or go outdoors. Do you have any idea when they might be allowed to reopen? Hopefully before they have to close permanently."