DeWine: It'd Be 'Very Irresponsible' To Lift 10 P.M. Alcohol Sale Curfew

Although Gov. Mike DeWine previously considered removing the 10 p.m. curfew on alcohol sales, he said this week that it would likely remain in place for a while.

Officials imposed the curfew in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and during a press conference Tuesday (October 20), DeWine explained that because the state’s case numbers continue to climb, the curfew won't change any time soon.

“I understand what’s at stake,” DeWine acknowledged of business hits to establishment owners. “But with these numbers going crazy, we can’t do this now.”

He said it would be “very irresponsible at this point” to lift the curfew, based on the state’s coronavirus numbers. 19News noted that the state “set multiple records” for the number of cases reported in a day.

As of Tuesday, the Ohio Department of Health reported more than 185,600 total cases statewide. Data also shows there have been more than 5,000 deaths in Ohio.

DeWine and others have been bracing for the change of seasons, bringing colder weather and ushering more people indoors, where the virus could spread more easily. He said earlier this month that the data has him "deeply concerned," urging Ohioans to continue to take COVID-19 precautions.

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