Sarasota Bars To Boot Minors

By PATRICK WHITTLE The Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Published: May 24, 2007

SARASOTA - Last call is at hand for people under 21 years old who wish to attend Sarasota County's bars and nightclubs.

The county commission, after months of waffling, banned minors from entering establishments in the county that serve alcohol. The decision made Sarasota County the third jurisdiction in the region to kick minors out of bars.

The measure will become official within a few weeks after state officials approve it. Commissioners said they hope it will help curb underage drinking.

"This is one step toward keeping the community warned that you don't want people who are underage in these bars," said Ellen Snelling, a spokeswoman for Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

But Jorge Abraham, general manager of Club Escapes on Clark Road, said the bar ban's goals are unrealistic.

"What do they think, they are just going to stay home and watch 'I Love Lucy'?" Abraham asked. "Now you have them driving all the way to Tampa, now they are getting drunk and driving all the way back from Tampa."

Manatee County and the city of Sarasota banned minors from bars after violent outbursts at Sarasota and Bradenton night spots.

Communities elsewhere in the state, including Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, also have banned minors from bars.

Sarasota County, whose jurisdiction includes popular pubs in Siesta Village and Gulf Gate Village, has considered enacting a ban for the past six months.

Commissioners, though, have been hung up on details such as how stiff fines should be, what time of night the ban should start and what establishments should enforce the ban.

Commissioners set a fine of $250 for the first offense and $500 for second and subsequent offenses. The fine applies to underage patrons and bartenders and establishments that serve minors.

Patrons who break the rule could face up to 60 days in jail. Businesses that break it could lose their license to operate.

The ban applies 24 hours a day. An earlier version would have enforced the ban at 9 p.m.

The ban must be enforced by "any premises devoted during any time of operation predominantly or totally to serving alcoholic beverages," according to county records.

That means serving of food is no more than "incidental," records state. County commissioners said they will monitor the success of the ordinance for a few months before possibly bringing it back for revisions.