Toronto mayoral candidate Joe Pantalone supports a move to allow bars and restaurants to serve alcohol beginning at 10 a.m. during the World Cup. Games willgenerally air at 7:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. local time, but according to city law, alcohol can’t be served until 11 a.m.
“The nature of celebrations is that people like to have adrink with it,” said Pantalone, the current deputy mayor and an Italy fan. “The recession is still with us. Small business is the backbone of this city and this country and this will help the smallbusinesses that operate as restaurants and bars.”
A motion will go before city council on Wednesday. Pantalone dismissed concerns about soccer fans causing problems, noting Toronto FCfans always “have good clean fun.”