Superior Court Judge Pamela Gates rejected claims that it was discriminatory to shut down bars but allow restaurants to not just remain open but to continue serving alcohol.

 Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star File

PHOENIX β€” Gov. Doug Ducey’s order shuttering bars remains intact, at least for now, a judge ruled Tuesday.

Judge Pamela Gates of Maricopa County Superior Court spurned a request by the owners of more than 100 bars and taverns. They wanted to block enforcement of executive orders that forbid bars from opening while allowing operation of restaurants with liquor licenses to continue to serve clients.

The judge said Ducey’s orders β€œare rationally related to expert data and guidance on minimizing the spread of COVID-19 in our community.”

In her 14-page ruling, Gates said she saw no evidence the orders cause irreparable harm to the bar owners. That’s one of the factors judges are required to consider when determining if a law or order can remain in effect while it is being challenged.

On paper, Tuesday’s order does not end the legal fight. Gates still has to decide whether a full-blown trial is needed or whether to dismiss most of the claim.

But an attorney for the bars, Ilan Wurman, conceded the chances are slim of convincing Gates that Ducey’s actions are illegal. So he’s already considering taking the case to the state Court of Appeals.

Tuesday’s ruling was not a complete loss for Wurman and his clients.

Gates said the decision by Ducey to allow restaurants to sell alcoholic beverages to go β€” something prohibited by state law β€” β€œimpermissibly stretches” the governor’s emergency powers. That paves the way for Gates to declare such β€œoff-premises” sales illegal.

The dispute involves decisions made by Ducey going back to March about which kinds of businesses had to close in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19. He originally ordered all bars and restaurants closed.

Ducey relented in May, allowing both types of businesses to operate under certain guidelines. But when that resulted in a spike in COVID-19 cases, he partly reversed course.

Under the current version of his order, establishments licensed as bars cannot open. But establishments licensed under state liquor laws as restaurants β€” meaning they derive at least 40% of their revenue from food β€” are allowed to operate.

The governor said bars can open if they apply to the Arizona Department of Health Services and detail how they will change their operations to be more like a restaurant. That means being led to a seat by a staffer, having to wear a mask except while eating and drinking, and having to remain at a table, with no mingling or informal meet-and-greet. Dancing, darts and pool are definitely out, state health officials have said.

Gates first rejected Wurman’s arguments that the Legislature acted unconstitutionally in giving broad powers to any governor who declares an emergency. She said those laws only entitle Ducey to actions β€œconsistent with existing law and the Arizona Constitution.”

The judge also rejected claims that it was discriminatory to shut down bars but allow restaurants to not just remain open but to continue serving alcohol.

She pointed out that Ducey has relied on recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the White House Coronavirus Task Force, both of which have said there are reasons to distinguish between traditional bars, whose primary business is the sale of alcoholic beverages, and restaurants.

Gates cited statements submitted by Dr. Marjorie Bessel, chief clinical officer at Banner Health, who said bars β€œpose a uniquely dangerous environment for the spread of COVID-19.”

Those factors, Bessel said, include the fact that bars typically feature loud environments β€œwhich result in raised voices and greater projection of orally emitted viral droplets and cause people to lean in to each other when speaking, posing a greater threat of transmission.”

Bessel said dancing at bars, coupled with limited ventilation, also results in an environment where respiratory droplets are more easily spread.

And finally, it’s a question of age, the Banner official said. β€œBars tend to attract a younger adult population, which currently represents the highest demographic carrying COVID-19 in Arizona,” Bessel said.

Gates said she was convinced, and that bar patrons β€œoften linger for hours, mixing with different individuals and groups.”

β€œThe consumption of alcohol, even when not to the point of intoxication, can dull one’s sense of caution,” the judge wrote. β€œIn addition, mask wearing is incompatible with sipping and sharing drinks.”

The judge said there’s another key difference.

At a restaurant, she said, a server routinely comes to the table to tend to patrons.

β€œBargoers often mingle throughout the bar and seek out a new drink from the bar top or a server spotted across the establishment,” Gates wrote.

The restrictions on bars are based on weekly reports of the pandemic in each specific county, the judge noted. The risk of spread has already diminished to the point where bars can reopen in Greenlee and La Paz counties based on health conditions there.

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