CENTERVILLE — News Center 7 found bars and restaurants in the Miami Valley are not always following the Dine Safe Ohio Order from the Department of Health.
The order says “customers must be seated when consuming food, beer, wine and liquor on the premises of the business.”
It is a mandate, not a recommendation for local establishments. News Center 7 found several area patios in compliance on Friday when we checked.
But not every time.
On May 29, News Center 7 captured video of MacDiggers Pub in Centerville showing a crowd standing on the patio. The bar would not comment on the matter.
Dan Suffoletto, with Public Health -- Dayton & Montgomery County, said his department is working on educating establishments about the rules rather than enforcing them.
“It is so brand new and there's no precedent for it, so we're trying to avoid that as much as possible and we really want to educate people,” Suffoletto said.
He notes that 16 inspectors are responsible for looking after the more than 1,700 bars and restaurants in Montgomery County.
“We try to get around as best we can, respond to complaints as best we can, but ultimately we need the bar owners and the restaurant owners to act responsibly and we need the public to act responsibly,” Suffoletto said.
Customers also need to take responsibility by not going into crowded areas, he said.
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