On Tuesday, Zack Medford, the head of the state Bar and Tavern Association, formally requested an easing of COVID-19 restrictions meant to allow patrons back inside and end the curfew requiring alcohol sales to stop by 9 p.m.
WITH MORE REACTIONS FROM ONE OF THE HARDEST HIT INDUSTRIES HOPING TO SEE SOME RELIEF. DAVID? >> Reporter: THEY ARE HOPEFUL AS WE ARE TALKING AT BAR OWNERS. EARLIER TODAY THE HEAD OF THE STATE BAR TABULATION REQUESTED EASING RESTRICTIONS MEANT TO ALLOW PATRONS BACK INSIDE AND IN THE CURFEW. ZACH MEDFORD IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE GROUP, JOINING US LIVE NOW TONIGHT. ZACH, WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO YOU OFF AND ON OVER THE PAST YEAR. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT. IT'S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR FOR YOU. I KNOW YOU CLOSED AT LEAST ONE OF YOUR BARS. DO YOU EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO REOPEN? >> IT'S BEEN 342 DAYS SINCE BARS WERE ABLE TO WELCOME GUESTS BACK INSIDE OUR BARS AND TAVERNS. WE ARE VERY, VERY CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC THAT TOMORROW WE'RE GOING TO SEE AN EASING OF RESTRICTIONS AND MAYBE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE A BEER OR TWO. ONE OF OUR CUSTOMERS WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO SEE IN 11 MONTHS. >> Reporter: IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN, COULD YOU REOPEN? >> I THINK A LOT OF BARS ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA WILL NEVER REOPEN. WE'VE BEEN OUT OF BUSINESS WITH NO REVENUE FOR 11 MONTHS, AND I THINK THAT BEING ABLE TO ALLOW 30% CAPACITY INSIDE OF OUR BARS, PUSHING THE ALCOHOL CURFEW BACK TO 11:00 P.M. WOULD BE A HUGE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. IT WON'T MAKE ANYBODY RICH, BUT AT LEAST ALLOW US TO STAY AFLOAT AS WE SEE THE END OF THIS PANDEMIC AND HOPEFULLY ONE DAY GET BACK TO NORMAL. >> Reporter: ZACH, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS WHEN YOU WERE HOPEFUL THAT SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN AND IT DIDN'T. SO LOOKING AT BEST CASE SCENARIO AND WHAT WOULD BE GOOD ENOUGH TOMORROW. GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT BOTH OF THOSE WILL LOOK LIKE. >> YOU KNOW IN A PERFECT WORLD WE WANT TO BE TREATED JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY. WE WANT TO BE AT 50%. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SERVE UNTIL 2:00 A.M. BUT WE ARE WILLING TO TAKE 30% CAPACITY INSIDE BARS, AND WE'RE WILLING TO BE ABLE TO SERVE UNTIL 11:00 EXAMINE. IF WE COULD GET THOSE TWO THINGS IN PLACE, THAT WILL GIVE US A CHANCE TO SURVIVE, AND THAT WILL ALLOW US TO AT LEAST PAY A FEW BILLS AND MAKE SOME OF THOSE BACK RENT PAYMENTS. AND THEN MAYBE AS WE APPROACH THE SUMMER, WE COULD ACTUALLY GET BACK ON OUR FEET AND GET THROUGH THIS THING TOGETHER. >> WELL ABOUT 19 HOURS FROM NOW YOU'LL HAVE THE OFFICIAL WORD. >> Reporter: ZACH MEDFORD PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH CAROLINA
