Bars on Oahu Ordered to Close at Midnight
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced that Governor David Ige has verbally approved the City and County of Honolulu’s amended order that requires bars on Oahu to cease the sale, service, and consumption of alcohol by 12 a.m. daily. The amended order is effective immediately.
A “bar” for purposes of the amended Emergency Order means an establishment possessing a Class 2, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, or 18 liquor license, as defined by the Rules of the Liquor Commission of the City and County of Honolulu, State of Hawai‘i, regardless of whether food is served, including the outdoor areas of such establishments.
“As we see the number of coronavirus cases rise on Oahu, we want to do everything we can to keep businesses open, while keeping people safe,” said Mayor Kirk Caldwell. “We have received numerous complaints of clear failure to follow the rules and we know people are less likely to make good decisions if they are intoxicated, especially when it comes to physical distancing. By cutting off the sale of liquor at 12 a.m., we hope to allow businesses to continue to operate, while limiting the possibility of reckless behavior. This is preferable to closing an entire class of businesses. During this pandemic, we all need to do everything we can to protect each other, because the only way we keep this virus under control is if we all work together and do what we know works. Wear your face coverings, keep your physical distance, and wash your hands.”
The Mayor’s Emergency Order No. 2020-19 (Second Amendment to Ho‘oulu i Honolulu 4.0) provides that any bar that does not comply with the requirements under the Mayor’s Emergency Orders, which include the wearing of face covering, social/physical distancing requirements, and rules related to certain indoor activities such as singing and dancing, shall be subject to the immediate closure for a 24 hour period effected by the Honolulu Police Department and/or the Honolulu Liquor Commission. Bar operators found in noncompliance with the requirements of this Order may also be subject to penalties that could include fines, suspension, and/or revocation of the liquor license.
A signed version of the Amended Emergency Order No. 2020-19, will be posted later today at honolulu.gov.
If you have any questions on Mayor Caldwell’s Second Amended Ho‘oulu i Honolulu Order 4.0, the City and County of Honolulu COVID-19 information call center remains open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on holidays. O‘ahu residents are encouraged to visit the website, oneoahu.org to get answers to frequently asked questions. If they do not find an answer to their questions on the site, residents can call the 768-CITY (2489) information hotline or email [email protected].
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