The city of Lake Worth is creating a buzz, requiring liquor stores, convenience stores and grocery stores to stop selling packaged alcohol at 10 p.m.
City commissioners passed the ordinance limiting sale times earlier this year, but a flyer and letter were sent out to businesses earlier in the week, letting owners know the new rule is now in effect.
Lake Worth's city manager, Michael Bornstein says it had to be done-- late liquor sales were creating too much unnecessary crime.
"Fights, litter, public urination, noise, those kinds of things...people passing out," Bornstein says, "We needed to do something about it."
Bornstein says people would stick around liquor stores and gas stations and drink, breaking open container laws.
"People were treating these packaged sales outlets pretty much like de facto bars," he explains, "They would go in and get a drink and drink it outside, come back, and that activity was negatively impacting the surrounding properties and neighborhoods."
Bar hours will not change, because Bornstein says drinking is okay. The ordinance is aimed at stopping people from drinking in parking lots and outside of shopping centers late at night.
"Before 10 o'clock, go get your twelve pack and go home, and everything will be fine," Bornstein said.
Business owners say it could mean a loss in money for them, however. Arunas Pranys, who owns Coast Wine and Liquors, says a lot of his business comes in after 10 p.m., when many people are just getting off of work.
"When the kitchens close, cooks and usually the employees from the kitchens from the avenue, Lake Avenue, they come in after 10:00, like 10:15, 10:30, so we are probably going to lose those," Pranys says.
Bornstein says there will be a 30-day educational period. For the next month, he says, deputies will remind businesses to close early without ticketing them. After that however, anyone who sells packaged liquor after 10 p.m. in Lake Worth will face a fine.
