ORLANDO, Fla. — The city of Orlando is rewriting its rules to implement an ordinance that would allow customers to purchase alcohol by 9 a.m. However, for many downtown bars and restaurants, the new guidelines won't make a difference to their businesses.
"Sunday brunch is our busiest day of the week by far," Spice General Manager Justin Shoener said.
Spice customer Melissa Elliot was spotted enjoying a mimosa Sunday morning at the restaurant where bottles started popping at 10 a.m., two hours before they are supposed to under Orlando ordinance.
"I look forward to Sunday funday with my friends," Elliot said.
WFTV's Karla Ray asked business owners who sell alcohol before noon if they knew it was illegal and many admitted that they did not even know the law existed.
"People are ready to order mimosas, so I was surprised by that. I haven't heard that," Shoener said.
Instead of citing businesses that open the bar early, the city is changing its rules to allow bars to pour alcohol earlier than its current noon law.
"We thought that by putting this ordinance in it would be more consistently enforced throughout the city," Commissioner Jim Gray said.
The ordinance change would also allow early sales inside grocery, liquor and convenience stores, meaning customers could pick up a case of beer or bottle of wine before breakfast.
"They're going to buy it either way. They could just as easily buy it Saturday night and keep it in their fridge. It's going to happen either way," Orlando resident Mike Sciotto.
WFTV
