California’s Orange Tier Allows For Later Closing Times
One of the sort of hidden aspects of San Diego being place in California’s less restrictive Orange Tier of COVID-19 restrictions is that the curfew of early closures for bars and restaurants is lifted.
That means they no longer have to have last call at 10 or 10:30 p.m., with tables up at 11 p.m. Bars and restaurants can now stay open until their normal closing time. That means last call at 1:30 a.m., with people out by 2.
Bar and restaurant/bar owners feel like partying like their patrons over this change. After all, they make the bulk of their money between 10 p.m., and closing time. That has been taking away from them the past year as state and local officials reduced operating hours.
The resumption of standard closing times could also prompt a return of Happy Hours – which some bars and restaurants had eliminated during the pandemic – or a return to normal Happy Hour times. Some places had ended them earlier than usual since they had to close earlier during the red and purple tier restrictions.
The orange tier calls for 50% capacity indoors for bars and restaurants. Also PubClubbers no longer have to order food in order to get a drink. Bars, breweries, distilleries and wine tasting businesses that don’t serve food are allowed to be open.
Gov. Gavin Newsom also announced that he is targeted June 15 for the lifting of all restrictions and elimination of the state’s colored tier system. However, state and county officials are keeping an eye on rising positive case numbers and San Diego may be forced to return to a more restrictive tier in two weeks.
So the bouncing ball isn’t being deflated just yet for bars and restaurants, as well as customers.
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