Liquor sales crackdown in Miami get mixed reaction from visitors

Miami Beach, Florida – Last weekend, Michelle Moyer and her husband, Lance, visiting Miami Beach from Pennsylvania, said they saw a victim hit by bullets in one of at least 2 shootings reported on South Beach. “That was scary,” she said. “I think it was 7 gunshots.”

Following those shootings, city officials declared a state of emergency and impose a curfew.

The curfew began Thursday night at 11:59 p.m. and will continue nightly until 6 a.m. the next morning. This will be in place until Monday morning. “I think it’s a great idea. I think it’s at least a step,” said Lance Moyer. But his wife, Michelle, disagrees. “I think they’re just going to go somewhere else to be stupid,” Michelle said.

The first target hit by Miami Beach’s emergency measure were liquor stores. Throughout the weekend, they are forced to stop selling liquor by 6 p.m. daily.

The liquor sales stoppage impacts all businesses south of Dade Boulevard with the exception of hotels serving their guests.

According to liquor store owners, the issue is that they feel unfairly targeted. “Of course, it’s going to affect the bottom line, it’s a lot of money.”

So do the tourists. “Yeah, we came out to have a good time and the fact that we have to go in early it’s feels just like, wow.”

When asked if they would come back to Miami Beach next year? They quickly responded, “No.”