Revised blue law loosens spirits

Now, Tampa bars and stores can sell alcohol as early as 11 a.m. on Sundays before the football games start.

TAMPA - This Sunday, bar patrons throughout the city will be able to buy beer before kickoff.

Mayor Pam Iorio signed Tampa's revised blue law Friday afternoon, one day after the City Council unanimously agreed to allow earlier alcohol sales on Sundays. The ordinance says businesses can sell alcoholic beverages beginning at 11 a.m. Sundays instead of 1 p.m, effective immediately.

The move comes just in time for the first Sunday of football season, drawing a celebratory clink of beer mugs from bar and restaurant owners who have had to serve water, sodas and iced tea until the games began.

"That's great news," said Jennifer Braddock, a bartender at Press Box Sports on Dale Mabry Highway.

The city fielded calls from a large number of business owners Friday after the council passed the ordinance. They all wanted to know when they would be allowed to turn on the taps at the new time, officials said.

Iorio, unaware of all the hoopla, didn't even know she had signed it into law. Her chief of staff reviews the paperwork before it is dropped on her desk for her signature.

"I had a large stack of documents that I signed today," Iorio said. "There was absolutely no time issue at all."

Iorio said Sunday is family day at her house.

"It doesn't really matter to us," she said. "It doesn't affect what we do."

She said she supports the law because the "council unanimously wanted to change it."

The law also allows for the earlier sale of alcohol at grocery and convenience stores and Tampa International Airport.

Airport officials are particularly happy. They will appear before the City Council Oct. 9 in an attempt to get sales times changed to 7 a.m. at the airport to benefit travelers crossing time zones.

But they'll take the 11 a.m. change for now, said Louis Miller, executive director of the aviation authority.

"We're excited," Miller said. "A lot of people at the airport on Sunday like to drink before 11. The change will be very helpful for us."