Miami city leaders to shut down liquor stores for spring break 2024 after fatal accidents
Misty Severi
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The city of Miami is considering shutting down liquor stores as a way to curb spring break festivities next year after two deaths occurred within 72 hours of each other this year, derailing the annual celebrations.
Miami Mayor Dan Gelber (D-FL) slammed the out-of-town partiers during a city meeting on Monday, where the city’s leaders discussed plans to close liquor stores, set up metal detectors, and ticket big events.
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“We are doing everything we can to tell the world we don’t want you here,” Gelber said, adding that he wants to make the city a less appealing destination for spring breakers. “This is not an all-inclusive resort where people can do what they want. We certainly aren’t Las Vegas or New Orleans.”
The city council did vote in favor of closing down liquor stores early next March, but the final decision on the liquor sale crackdown has not yet been made, according to the Daily Mail.
Gelber’s comments come the same day as the Miami Beach Police Department released citywide numbers between Feb. 27 and March 27, which includes the peak spring break period. A total of 488 arrests were made, with more than half of those for felony arrests, the report said. More than 100 firearms were confiscated and impounded as well.
“We don’t ask for spring break in our city. We don’t want spring break in our city,” Gelber said in a video. “It’s too rowdy, it’s too much disorder, and it’s too difficult to police.”
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It also follows two deadly shootings over St. Patrick’s Day weekend, which pushed Miami to implement a curfew from midnight to 6 a.m. Both suspects in the shootings have been arrested.
The attacks occurred despite the city sponsoring multiple events to keep partiers entertained and having a major police presence. Nearby communities, including Fort Lauderdale, Florida, did not have similar incidents despite large spring break crowds.