Close compromise on closing time in bar lawsuit

As any bartender knows: there’s a lot of business to be had in those last few hours: shots for everybody! Just one more! And anuhther!

The Athens-Clarke County City Council in Athens, Georgia, and several bars have agreed to settle a lawsuit over a controversial city ordinance that would have moved “last call” to 10 p.m. and instead compromised on an 11:30 p.m. last call for drink orders, WSB-TV reported Friday. 

In July, the county passed its ordinance that shifted the 2 a.m. last call to comply with COVID-19 restrictions, causing bars and restaurants in the Athens area to complain that the limit on hours to drink would have significantly hurt their business, according to the media report.

The new times will remain in effect until the expiration of a statewide emergency order.

More insurance and risk management news on the coronavirus crisis here.