Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a bill allowing alcoholic beverages to be carried in a section of downtown Lake Wales.
The Lake Wales City Commission voted 3-2 in August 2025 to approve a resolution creating an Arts, Culture and Entertainment District. The action will permit patrons of participating businesses to carry alcoholic beverages within the district, an area bordered by State Road 17 to the east, First Street to the west, Orange Avenue to the north and Central Avenue to the south.
The measure required state approval to create an exception to open-carry laws. Rep. Jon Albert, R-Frostproof, sponsored the bill, which passed the House unanimously and received only one no vote in the Senate.
The measure took effect with DeSantis’ signing of the bill on June 10.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.theledger.com ’
