Where To Buy Beer On Holidays In Pinellas County

In Pinellas County, Florida, the sale of alcohol is prohibited between 12 a.m. and 7 a.m. However, certain counties are permitted to sell alcohol seven days a week, 24 hours a day, and some retailers even allow 24/7 sales. In March 2017, the Pinellas County Commission passed an ordinance allowing restaurants and stores in the county to sell alcohol from 8 a.m. to 3 a.m. daily, including on Sundays, when alcohol sales were previously restricted until 11 a.m. This change was supported by St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman, who believed it would boost local tourism and benefit businesses and restaurants. While the county-level ordinance permits earlier alcohol sales on Sundays, individual cities within Pinellas County can still opt to maintain or impose their own restrictions.

Alcohol sales are allowed from 8 am to 3 am in Pinellas County

In Pinellas County, Florida, alcohol sales are allowed from 8 am to 3 am. This applies to both packaged alcoholic beverages and on-premise consumption in bars and restaurants. The change in the law was approved by the Pinellas County Commission in March 2017, allowing for uniformity in alcohol sales across the week. Prior to this, an old ''blue law' prohibited alcohol sales before 11 am on Sundays.

The new ordinance means that residents and visitors to Pinellas County can purchase alcohol from 8 am to 3 am, seven days a week. This change was supported by the Mayor's Council of Pinellas County and St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman, who advocated for the time change, stating that the "time for blue laws is long passed."

It is important to note that individual cities within Pinellas County, such as Dunedin, may still choose to pass their own local ordinances and maintain the previous 11 am sales restriction on Sundays. Additionally, the laws regarding alcohol sales may vary for unincorporated areas of the county.

While drunk driving remains a concern in Florida, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office did not raise any objections to the new ordinance. A study by the National Institutes of Health also suggested that there is no direct link between the repeal of Sunday sales bans and an increase in fatal vehicle accidents.

The legal drinking age in Florida is 21, and there are strict penalties for violating alcohol laws, including fines and jail time.

Alcohol can be purchased on Sundays from 7 am in Florida

In Pinellas County, Florida, alcohol sales are now permitted from 8 am onwards on Sundays. This change was approved by the Pinellas County Commission in March 2017, bringing uniformity to alcohol sales across the week, from 8 am to 3 am.

Prior to this, an old blue law prohibited the sale of alcohol before 11 am on Sundays. Blue laws are laws that restrict activity or sales of goods on Sundays to respect the Christian Sabbath. This particular law was a remnant of colonial times, promoting the idea that people should be attending church rather than drinking.

While the new ordinance has been welcomed by many, including the Mayor's Council of Pinellas County, individual cities within the county, such as Hillsborough County, still have the option to maintain the 11 am restriction if they choose to pass their own ordinance.

In Florida, the days and hours of alcohol sales are generally under the jurisdiction of the counties and cities. While some counties, like Miami-Dade, permit 24-hour sales, seven days a week, others have more restricted hours. For example, in Polk County, beer and wine can be purchased from 7 am on Sundays, while previously, certain parts of the county could not buy alcohol until noon.

It is important to note that local ordinances may impose additional restrictions or regulations on alcohol sales, so it is advisable to check with local authorities for specific guidelines.

Drunk driving remains a major problem in central Florida

In Pinellas County, Florida, residents and visitors are allowed to purchase alcohol from 8 am to 3 am, seven days a week. This change in legislation was approved by the Pinellas County Commission in March 2017, allowing bars, restaurants, and stores to sell alcohol from 8 am on Sundays. The previous rule prohibited alcohol sales before 11 am on Sundays.

While this change in legislation was welcomed by many, drunk driving remains a significant concern in central Florida. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), for example, is an organization that works tirelessly to support victims at no charge, advocate for stronger laws, and create a future of No More Victims.

Drunk driving, or driving under the influence (DUI), is a major problem not just in central Florida but across the state. Florida law defines DUI as driving or being in actual physical control of a vehicle while having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or more, or while under the influence of alcohol, harmful chemical substances, or illegal controlled substances. Florida further defines "under the influence" as impaired to the extent that the person is deprived of full possession of normal faculties.

The consequences of a DUI conviction in Florida depend on the number of prior convictions, the recentness of the prior offenses, and the circumstances of the current DUI. Penalties for a DUI conviction can include fines, imprisonment, vehicle impoundment, license revocation, and probation. For example, a first-offense DUI in Florida can result in a fine of $500 to $1,000, up to six months of imprisonment, a one-year probation, 50 hours of community service, and ten days of vehicle impoundment.

Subsequent DUI convictions carry harsher penalties, including longer imprisonment, higher fines, and longer vehicle impoundment and license revocation periods. For instance, a third DUI conviction within ten years of a prior conviction is considered a felony in Florida, resulting in a minimum of 30 days of imprisonment, a $2,000 to $5,000 fine, a 90-day vehicle impoundment, and a minimum ten-year driver's license revocation.

Additionally, DUI incidents that result in injuries, serious bodily harm, or death will also incur further penalties, including higher fines and longer imprisonment. For instance, a DUI incident resulting in serious injury is considered a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $5,000, along with a minimum three-year driver's license revocation.

It is important to note that drunk driving is entirely preventable, and individuals should always enjoy alcohol responsibly. Organizations like MADD are committed to creating a future of No More Victims, and by donating or joining their army of activists, concerned citizens can help save lives and prevent injuries caused by drunk driving.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's office raised no objections to the new alcohol ordinance

The Pinellas County Commission passed an ordinance in March 2017 to allow the sale of alcohol in restaurants and stores in the county from 8 a.m. onwards on Sundays. This ordinance was passed to bring uniformity to alcohol sales across the week, with sales now permitted from 8 a.m. to 3 a.m. every day.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office did not object to this new ordinance, as confirmed by Belleair Mayor Gary H. Katica, president of the Mayor's Council of Pinellas County. The Mayor's Council supported the measure, and Katica wrote in a letter to commissioners that no objections were expressed by the Sheriff's Office.

The previous law, which prohibited alcohol sales before 11 a.m. on Sundays, was a remnant of the "blue laws," which date back to colonial times. These laws were intended to promote church attendance over drinking on Sundays. However, with changing times, the Pinellas County Commission recognised the need to update this restriction.

While the new ordinance provides uniformity across the week, individual cities within Pinellas County can still choose to pass their own local ordinances and maintain the 11 a.m. sales restriction on Sundays if they wish to do so. This flexibility allows cities to align the alcohol sales policy with the specific needs and preferences of their communities.

Blue laws restricting Sunday alcohol sales are outdated, according to some

In March 2017, the Pinellas County Commission voted to approve a new ordinance that would allow restaurants and stores in the county to sell alcohol from 8 a.m. on Sundays, bringing uniformity to alcohol sales across the week. This replaced the previous restriction, which prohibited the sale of alcohol before 11 a.m. on Sundays.

This change was supported by the Mayor's Council of Pinellas County and St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman, who stated, "Let's be honest, this isn't 1817, this is 2017. The time for blue laws is long passed." Blue laws, which date back to colonial times, are designed to promote the idea that people should attend church on Sundays instead of drinking, with many laws also restricting other types of businesses from operating on Sundays.

The Tampa Bay Tribune editorial board called the 11 a.m. start time for Sunday drinking an "unneeded, outdated relic," arguing that there was no "public safety argument" for restricting alcohol sales on Sundays when it was permitted on other days of the week. This sentiment was echoed by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, which raised no objections to the new ordinance.

While some have expressed concern that expanding the hours of alcohol sales may lead to an increase in drunk driving incidents, a study by the National Institutes of Health suggested that there is "no relationship between repeal of Sunday sales bans and fatal vehicle accidents."

Despite the new ordinance, individual cities within Pinellas County, such as Dunedin, can still choose to maintain the 11 a.m. sales restriction or pass additional ordinances to regulate alcohol sales further.

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