Columbia City Council approves of alcohol permits to extend bar hours 2026 FIFA World Cup game days
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Columbia city leaders on Monday night approved to allow businesses to apply for a permit that would allow them to sell alcohol for extended during this year's FIFA World Cup.
The vote follows pushback from some commissions in the city, including the city’s Substance Use Prevention Advisory Commission. The commission had urged the city to opt out of Missouri House Bill 1041--which would would allow licensed bars and restaurants to sell alcohol for 23 hours a day throughout the tournament. The commission warned the city the move would put a strain on service industry workers and asked leaders to consider the public safety aspect.
The council amended the "closing time" to be 2:30 a.m. Permits that would allow for extended bar hours would be approved for dates that specifically have corresponding World Cup matches and not last the entire month-and-a-half the tournament occurs..
The 2026 World Cup runs from June 1-July 19.
The City Council also tabled a vote that could ban gaming machines during Monday night's meeting. Mayor Barbara Buffaloe had expressed a desire to see how the legislative process plays out and plans to suggest tabling the vote, according to previous reporting.
