Gov. McMaster lifts COVID-19 ‘last call’ rule on SC restaurant alcohol sales
South Carolina’s restaurants will be allowed to serve alcohol after 11 p.m. starting Monday after Gov. Henry McMaster lifted his months-long rule aimed at reducing the COVID-19 spread in the state.
McMaster also lifted a rule that prevents events from having more than 250 people in attendance unless the Department of Commerce grants an exemption.
McMaster first put the alcohol restriction in place in July to slow the spread of the coronavirus, which causes the sometimes deadly COVID-19 respiratory illness, targeting young adults. People between the ages of 21 and 40 make up more than 30% of South Carolinians who have been diagnosed with the virus, according to the state’s health department.
But following decreases in the number of new COVID-19 cases and the percent positive — which shows what proportion of tests are coming back positive for the virus — the business community has put pressure on McMaster to lift the restrictions.
And since he put the order in place, South Carolina has received thousands of doses in COVID-19 vaccines.
“With the spread of the virus consistently decreasing across the country and more of the most vulnerable South Carolinians being vaccinated every day, I believe these targeted and limited safety measures are no longer necessary,” McMaster said. “The virus is still among us and we all must continue to make responsible decisions to take care of ourselves and our loved ones, but those decisions are for South Carolinians to make.”
On Dec. 17, the S.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association used a report from New York that showed restaurants were only responsible for about 1.4% of COVID-19 transmission, while the majority of spread comes from social gatherings or households.
Alarming public health officials in Columbia, for example, young adults have flocked to bars in entertainment districts, oftentimes seen without wearing masks or practicing social distancing.
“We continue to support aggressive steps to protect our state’s public health, but there is an unfounded impression that restaurants are part of the problem,” the association said then. “Restaurants provide a safe environment, adhering to Restaurant Reopening Guidelines set forth by AccelerateSC and public health officials.”
Steve Cook, the president of the Five Points Association and owner of Saluda’s, a restaurant in the neighborhood, said lifting the last call restriction will actually spread people out.
He said people who come to restaurants for dinner during the evening hours are forced to mix in with a bar crowd which traditionally would be out and about later at night. The 11 p.m. last call rule led to the area being more crowded.
“As with a lot of COVID restrictions, when it was put in place, everybody had the best intentions and wanted the best results, and it ended up having a lot of unintended consequences that were actually detrimental to the reason it was put in place,” Cook said.
As a result of the “inconsistent, restrictive mandates,” the association said their industry has suffered.
Still, McMaster extended the alcohol sales restriction in his emergency order on Dec. 24.
McMaster lifted restrictions on restaurant capacities in October and loosened rules on spacing between tables and seating limitations.
Despite the drop in cases, the Department of Health and Environmental Control continues to encourage people to take safety precautions such as wearing a mask, practicing social distancing and good hygiene.
“Many South Carolinians have done their part by practicing the prevention measures we know work,” said DHEC Director Dr. Edward Simmer. “We are here today because of our citizens’ careful and ongoing efforts and we thank you for taking care of each other and putting your community and people first. I urge you to continue wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart, staying home and away from others if you’re sick and when it’s your time, get a safe and effective vaccine. Working together, we will defeat COVID-19.”
Even though the approval from the Department of Commerce is no longer required, the governor’s office and DHEC also recommended limiting attendance at gatherings to less than 50% of a space’s posted occupancy or fewer than 250 people.
However, though new cases have dropped in recent weeks, cases and hospitalizations remain high across the country, said U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Dr. Rochelle Walensky said at a Friday news conference.
Walensky said she has concerns of the COVID-19 variants popping up, adding time is needed to make sure more people get a vaccine.
“Things are tenuous,” Walensky said. “Now is not the time to relax restrictions.”
This story was originally published February 26, 2021 at 2:04 PM.
