Alabama bans alcohol sales at bars, restaurants after 11 p.m.

Alabama bans alcohol sales at bars, restaurants after 11 p.m.

Live in downtown huntsville.

She spoke to local officials and a bar owners about the new rule.

It will stop establishments from serving alcohol after 11 o'clock.

Today- local leaders and bar owners i talked to had differing opinions about the new rule prohibiting late night sales..

As the alabama alcoholic beverage control board said there is no data linking a rise in cases to bars and restaurants.

Mark komara, furniture factory owner,"to shut us down at 11 o'clock with no liquor sales, i'm going to have to lay people off , i'm not going to grow managers, cut my staff in half.

They're going to have to go find other jobs."

Mark komara the owner of furniture factory bar and grill told me he was blindsided monday morning when he learned the alabama alcoholic beverage control board will now prevent him from serving alcohol after 11 pm.

Mark komara, furniture factory owner,"i don't think there was a lot of thought going into this."

Komara told me his restaurant and bar was starting to rebound from the shutdown..

But the latest news will hurt him and his staff.

Mark komara, furniture factory owner,"my employees.

I just don't know how you can do this and just cut there..they have bills.

It's going to cut there pay right in half."

Huntsville mayor tommy battle and huntsville hospital c-e-0 david spillers both said they believe stopping the late night drinking in establishments will help stop the spread of the virus..

David spillers"bars were an opportunity for a lot of people to potentially spread covid just because of close contact.

People are drinking and they don't have their mask on, they're talking and there is music."

Tommy battle, mayor of huntsville "the restaurants and bars and nightlife places that happen after 10 or 11 night that will help the problem.

Some of those are places we having been watching very closely and monitoring."

Battle didn't say what businesses he was referring to..

But the a-b-c board and local officals told us there's no trace of an outbreak linked to any specific bars or restaurants in the area.

Mark komara, furniture factory owner,"i don't see how they can blame it on restaurants and bars if you are under the state health guidelines like i have been.

" now the rule which was signed today- will start to be enforced on saturday.

It will be in place for the next one hundred and 20 days unless the a-b-c board decides to end it sooner.

The order only stops the sale of alcohol.

Restaurants and bars can still serve food after 11pm.

Live in huntsville sm waay 31news.

Not everyone is happy with the new alcohol ban.

A petition against the order is already started online.

The petition already surpassed their first goal of 100 signatures and are now closing in on their 2nd goal of 500 people.

Right now -- they are at 417.

The organizer says the new ruling will devastate the economy - and will quote end any progress that has been made.

Make sure you stay with us.

On waay 31 news at six -- we hear from local bar and restaurant owners on how they expect the new ruling