TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Bars and breweries have been shut down for almost two months, and it has left many owners concerned about the livelihood of their business and employees.
It's why an attorney in Orlando is asking a judge to find the governor's executive order unconstitutional.
"My clients have never said, 'Hey, let's get rid of all of the guidelines.' In fact, it's just the opposite. They want to be good citizens. They just want the opportunity to do it," he said.
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Following those guidelines from the CDC, Cueni Brewing Company in Dunedin, Florida, believes bars and breweries should be allowed to open up, just like every other business in the state.
"There's no standing at a table. There's no standing at the bar, so you can do it. You just need to make sure you have the right staff people," said Bren Cueni, who owns the brewery with her husband.
Cueni has already opened after they purchased a $400 food license from the state.
But John Dill, an attorney in Winter Park, Florida, who is representing several bars and breweries in the Orlando area, doesn't think they should have to shell out hundreds of dollars just to open their doors.
On June 26, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation suspended bars from serving alcohol for on-premises consumption across the state, with some guidelines.
"If the United States Supreme Court has denied injunction requests from churches, then bars and pubs and nightclubs don't have a stool to stand on," said council for the governor and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
They spoke before a judge Tuesday. They explained why the governor believes those establishments are considered most risky for young people gathering close together.
But, Dill said the data is simply not there to back those claims up. He said the data shows cases were still rising long after bars and clubs were closed down.
"The governor has advocated, as of a few weeks ago, to open up schools with," he said. "If the issue that the congregation of young people is the source of the spread of COVID-19, why did schools reopen?"
The judge said he will look at both arguments and come back with his findings and acknowledges the livelihood of some bars and breweries across the state rely on a quick decision.
