Restaurants, hotels in Orange County to start selling alcohol earlier in day

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Hotels and restaurants in Orange County will soon be able to start selling alcohol at 7 a.m. each day after commissioners unanimously voted Tuesday to approve a code amendment.

Previously, alcohol sales couldn't begin until 11 a.m. at those establishments. Bars in the area are already allowed to start selling alcohol at 7 a.m.

"The majority of the surrounding local government jurisdictions allow sales to begin at 7 a.m.," the memorandum reads. "The (Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association's) thought is that this change would level the playing field between food service establishments in the unincorporated area and those outside the unincorporated area."

The approval of the amendment is expected to bring more competition to the tourist corridor along International Drive.

"It will help us out a lot, being able to serve alcohol in the morning. People will come," Lucky Leprechaun Irish Pub bartender Harold Cameron said.

The change is set to go into effect Monday.