Michigan authorities issue fines and suspends liquor licences of open restaurants

Michigan authorities have issued fines and suspended the liquor licences of restaurants across the state who were allowing people to dine indoors, violating quarantine regulations.

According to the Detroit Free Press, fines were received by Jimmy's Roadhouse in Newyago, Brew Works of Fremont, and The Meeting Place in Fenton.

Cafe Rosetta in Calumet and Woodchips Barbecue in Lapeer received $1000 USD fines, and Big Boy of Sandusky, Mich. received a fine of $5,000.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said the following in a press release:

"Although none of us wants to take such actions, the deliberate and blatant defiance of the state emergency public health orders by these owners put their businesses at risk. While we are heartbroken at the toll these closures invariably have on the businesses affected, first and foremost the state has an obligation to protect the lives of our residents."

“The vast majority of restaurant and bar owners are doing the right thing and they have temporarily closed their indoor service to help prevent the spread of the virus,” added Robert Gordon, the director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

The Sandusky location of Big Boy is planning to decouple itself from Big Boy as a franchisee, as it is in disagreement with the parent company.

Gordon further iterated that more sanctions, fines and suspensions of licences are forthcoming.

The state of Michigan under Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer has one of the strictest lockdown measures in the country currently.