Houston Chronicle by Zach Despart March 25, 2020
Harris County’s stay-at-home order to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus left open “essential businesses,†where residents buy their food, including supermarkets, restaurants, convenience stories and gas stations.
It also included a more curious exemption: liquor stores.
Denver’s ill-fated attempt to close them this week resulted in a run on alcohol, creating crowds public health experts say can easily spread the virus. The mayor reversed course after three hours.
The local order, said Dr. Sherri Onyiego of Harris County Public Health, left liquor stores open for different health reason — to avoid a spike in residents flooding hospitals with symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
More:
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Here-s-why-Harris-County-allowed-liquor-stores-to-15157307.php
