Senator John Yoder (R-Jefferson) sponsored a bill that would modify private clubs’ closing times. The bill changed the closing hours of bars to 2 a.m. Senators Foster, Green, Hunter, Jenkins, Wells, Deem, McKenzie and Bowman also sponsored the bill which came out of an interim study committee this past year.
Senator Yoder said, “I feel this bill is especially important to the Eastern Panhandle because we have residents coming in from other states to our bars after the bars in their state close, drinking and then driving on our roads. This contributes to DUI’s and traffic accidents. I want our community to be safe and peaceful and this bill will help ensure that. I am optimistic it will pass this year. Currently, West Virginia bars close as late in the morning as 3:30 a.m., while in neighboring states the closing time is 2 a.m.”