While residents toast the news to the owners and employees of bars and nightclubs, and to many tourists, the city of Miami Beach’s ban on selling alcoholic beverages from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. is a bitter pill to swallow, during spring break from March 7 to 21.
Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez says:
“We want the police not to be busy with drunk kids, but available for crime in the community.”
The measure only applies to establishments located south of 16th Street, the so-called entertainment zone.
David Wallack, owner of Mango’s Tropical Café, assures that security is everyone’s concern, including businesses. But the ordinance means stopping serving drinks and opening bottles before two, and that will have an impact on his profits.
“No economic impact is more important than security,” Fernandez said.
Residents believe that the sale of alcohol was one of the triggers for crime and violence during the spring break of 2020 and 2021.