KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Kissimmee officials voted unanimously Tuesday evening to move “last call” for alcohol sales at downtown bars and restaurants.
Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve the ordinance, which makes last call at midnight unless businesses have a special permit to allow alcohol sales until 2 a.m.
The permits cost $250, and the new rules go into effect Oct. 1.
The move is part of a safety measure.
In early May, two people were shot in a parking lot after leaving a downtown bar, sparking renewed discussion about alcohol restrictions.
As the city weighed public safety against business interests, opinions remained divided.
“Oh, definitely, because people get behind the wheel when they shouldn’t, do stupid things with alcohol when they’re drunk,” Kissimmee resident Alexander Laffey said. “I think alcohol quickly gets out of hand sometimes and causes problems, so I’d be for limiting alcohol.”
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Laffey said that fewer hours of alcohol sales are a small price to pay for increased safety.
“Find another way to make money,” he added.
However, Jim Miller, another downtown resident, disagreed.
“Anything that decreases revenues for business owners isn’t a good thing, because right now, they need to make a lot of money,” he said.
In February, the city commission held a workshop to gather public input on the issue.
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Some business owners expressed concerns about the impact on their revenue.
“This would be a humongous impact on my business,” a business owner said.
Others, though, emphasized safety.
“Let me be clear, one shooting is way too much,” a resident countered.