South Carolina governor prohibits alcohol sales after 11 p.m. in South Carolina

For South Carolina bars, last call will be at 11 p.m. until further notice.

Gov. Henry McMaster ordered bars and restaurants to stop serving alcohol at 11 p.m. each night in an executive order he named “The Last Call.” The prohibition goes into effect Saturday night as a way to try and stop the spread of COVID-19.

“This is an order that the state can enforce,” McMaster said during a news conference Friday. “It’s very difficult to enforce a statewide mask order, and one size doesn’t fit all. But this, with alcohol and beer after 11 o’clock at night, we can enforce this, and we will.”

Bars and restaurants that violate the order could have their liquor licenses suspended by the Department of Revenue. About 8,000 bars and restaurants that hold licenses for on-site alcohol consumption are affected by the order. It does not apply to alcohol sold at convenience stores, grocery stores or wine and liquor stores.

McMaster said the order is intended to help slow the spread of the coronavirus among the state’s younger population. About 38 percent of COVID-19 cases in South Car... (Read more)

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