Judge blocks city ban on early-morning alcohol sales in South Beach during spring break
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As Miami Beach welcomes spring break crowds, some city leaders are hoping raucous young partiers find somewhere else to go next year.
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A ban on early-morning liquor sales in South Beach during spring break was struck down Tuesday by a judge after a prominent Ocean Drive hotel took the city of Miami Beach to court.
As a result, alcohol will likely continue to flow until 5 a.m. at South Beach businesses between March 7 and March 21, a period during which City Hall had sought to turn off the spigot three hours early.
“We will not be enforcing the city’s 2 a.m. alcohol ban while we file an emergency appeal to the 3rd District Court of Appeals,” spokeswoman Melissa Berthier wrote in a statement.
Mayor Dan Gelber said the city is “obviously disappointed” in the ruling from Miami-Dade Judge Beatrice Butchko, who in June of 2021 struck down a similar liquor law that banned booze sales after 2 a.m. in South Beach’s entertainment district.
“Our city seems to be held hostage by a handful of all night bars whose business model foments the disorder and chaos that endangers our residents, visitors and cops,” Gelber said.
Attorneys for the Clevelander did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday.
The Miami Beach Hospitality and Tourism Coalition, a group representing local business owners, said in a statement that it was “unfortunate” the city continues to adopt arbitrary laws to limit owners’ property rights. The group said it wants to work with the city to retain Miami Beach’s cultural status and continue to make the city an attractive area for tourists and residents alike.
“Once again, the courts have sided with Miami Beach’s hospitality industry and local business owners,” the coalition said.
This story was originally published March 1, 2022 at 12:31 PM.
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