Bars and restaurants in Rhode Island may be able to stay open later during this summer’s men’s FIFA World Cup tournament.
Legislation that would give bars and restaurants the option to serve alcohol until 3 a.m. during select World Cup games is set for final votes in the General Assembly on Thursday, according to Rhode Island House Spokesman Larry Berman. At this point, each chamber has to approve the other chamber’s bill before they are sent to Gov. Dan McKee’s desk.
If fully approved, each town would still have to authorize plans by individual bars. In municipalities that OK the practice, businesses that want to stay open later would have to seek approval from their local licensing board 14 days in advance.
The House bill was sponsored by Central Falls Rep. Joshua Giraldo, who said that extended hours will make local bars a destination for World Cup fans.
“There are several late games, as well as several early games, that occur across the three countries that are hosting it,” Giraldo said. “It makes sense that a business wouldn’t want to cut off their service or have to close in the middle of a game.”
Giraldo said the idea to extend service hours was first put forth by the Rhode Island Hospitality Association.
“I think they heard from some of their members that this would be a benefit for them,” Giraldo said. “I guess they were asking around who the biggest soccer fan there is at the State House, and I won that by far. So they brought the idea to me, and I thought it made sense.”
While organizers and many political leaders hope millions of tourists will descend on New England, extended service wouldn’t apply only to communities hosting official watch parties. With the blessing of local regulators, any town in Rhode Island could greenlight later service. That has spurred concerns of increased safety hazards.
Separately, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation has said the Ocean State already has “a significant impaired driving problem.” Law enforcement in Rhode Island arrests approximately 3,000 drivers for driving under the influence every year, according to RIDOT.
MADD RI (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) has said it opposes extending hours of alcohol service.
The World Cup kicks off on Thursday, June 11, in Mexico City. Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, which FIFA calls Boston Stadium, will host matches on seven days, starting Saturday, June 13.
