Winter Haven liquor stores can now sell liquor on Sundays after previously being limited to beer and wine. Restaurants can serve up liquor starting at 7 a.m.
In Winter Haven, city leaders voted to change how restaurants are able to serve up a Sunday brunch.
On Monday evening, Winter Haven city commissioners voted unanimously to amend a city ordinance that had prevented the sale of liquor in the city before noon on Sundays.
Effective immediately, liquor stores can now sell liquor on Sundays (from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Mondays) after previously being limited to beer and wine. Restaurants can serve up liquor starting at 7 a.m., hours before the previous noon requirement.
Mayor Brad Dantzler said the old rules were dated.
“We can’t even really figure out when this whole thing was passed, probably back in a time, in a different era, back in the day,” he said.
The new rules are more in line with neighboring towns.
“We just are trying to level the playing field for our restaurants and our food vendors,” Dantzler added.
And according to the mayor, the rules hadn’t even been enforced at restaurants for as long as he could remember.
“It’s not going to be a big change, truthfully, because a lot of people have already been served mimosas and that kind of thing for Sunday morning brunches. But now it’s going to be in an official, legal capacity,” he said.
It’s a big change for liquor stores, though. Right now, King Liquor in Winter Haven is closed on Sundays. Now, Manager Ashwan Patel says they plan to open the extra day.
“It’ll grow some business on the weekends,” Patel said. “And customers won’t have to drive far away to get their liquor.”
This is the most recent city to make the change. In August, Bartow also passed a new ordinance allowing restaurants to serve alcohol before noon.