Restaurants that serve alcohol now have six months to secure a late-night sales permit from the city of Jacksonville Beach or close their doors at midnight.
The city council Nov. 4 gave final approval to an ordinance that has been talked about for more than a year. In an effort to better control late-night mayhem in the downtown area, the city has decided to put controls on restaurants that serve alcohol.
An annual $75 city permit will have to be secured by any restaurant that sells alcohol and wants to remain open from midnight to 2 a.m. That permit may be suspended or revoked by the city’s special magistrate if there are multiple problems at the property location with underage alcohol sales, lack of security or other safety issues.
While some social media reported that the new law, passed Nov. 4, would limit alcohol sales at midnight, that is not the case.
Restaurants that want a late night permit will have to submit detailed operational plans to the city, including security specifics and a table layout. Those plans will then be reviewed by police and planning officials. The city is allowing a six-month window for businesses to comply with the new law.
