Later Last Call

“World Class” Cities Move Toward Earlier Last Call

In April, proponents of “later last call” failed to extend alcohol sales from 2 AM to 4 AM for some San Francisco, CA nightspots. Supporters of the unsuccessful proposal claimed that a “later last call” would attract more tourist dollars and let San Francisco nightlife compete with other “world class cities” like New York. These advocates of late night drinking may be surprised to learn that New York’s Mayor Michael Bloomberg is taking a hard look at the noise and neighborhood disruption associated with his city's late night clubs and may do just the opposite—establish earlier closing hours for some of his city’s watering holes. The mayor wants to replace the city’s antiquated cabaret license with a new “nightlife license” for large, noisy clubs that are open after 1 AM.

New York is not the only city where policymakers are moving to close bars and clubs earlier. Just upstate, Buffalo, New York is also thinking about changing its closing time from 4 AM to 2 AM. And in Louisiana, several of the parishes surrounding another “world class” city, New Orleans, are also moving to place limits on alcohol sales. St. John the Baptist, St. James, and St. Tammany Parishes have all passed laws to end alcohol sales at 2 AM.

Even if extending the hours of alcohol sales produces more revenue for bar and club owners, it is not clear that the financial gains to a few would compensate for related law enforcement and public safety costs or the nuisance to neighbors.

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