Bars in the Lower Peninsula Must Discontinue Indoor Service

COLUMBUS, OH – SUNDAY, MARCH 15: Waiters and bartenders clean up bars and restaurants along North High Street in the Short North District on March 15, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced the government would issue an order closing all bars and restaurants in Ohio beginning at 9 pm Sunday due to the ongoing threat of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. (Photo by Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images)

Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced earlier today (7/1) that bars in Michigan’s lower peninsula must discontinue indoor service.

According to ABC12, Whitmer pointed to the rising number of coronavirus cases in the state as the reason for the move. Bars in the Upper Peninsula and northern Michigan can continue to provide service both indoors and outdoors.

While indoor service has to stop, bars can keep their patios open and offer alcohol-to-go, which is something new in the state.

Whitmer took to Twitter to post more specific details on the order:

Today, I closed indoor service at bars throughout most of lower Michigan to protect the progress our state has made against COVID-19. I also signed bills that will allow cocktails-to-go at bars & restaurants to help these businesses serve more Michiganders.

Details ⬇️

— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) July 1, 2020

▪️Regions 6 & 8 are excluded from the order.
▪️Bars statewide can continue to serve outdoors.
▪️The order applies to those with on-premises retailer liquor licenses that earn more than 70% of gross receipts from alcohol sales, so most brewpubs/distilleries can stay open indoors.

— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) July 1, 2020

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced 262 new confirmed cases in the state today. Four more deaths were also reported.

[ABC12]

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