Last call (bar term)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In a pub, a last call is an announcement made shortly before the bar closes for the night, urging the patrons to buy one last drink. There are various means to make this signal, like ringing a bell, flashing the lights, or announcing orally. In the UK it is called "last orders".

Last call times are often publicly regulated and vary widely globally as well as locally. Reasons to adopt such a policy include the reduction of noise development during the night, traffic accidents, and violence, as well as health issues resulting from prolonged drinking[1].

Contents

[edit] List of last call times around the world:

[edit] Australia

In NSW there is no specified closing time, although in residential areas bars are often required to close at midnight. In non-residential areas some bars are open 24 hours.

[edit] United Kingdom

From late 2005, drinking establishments could apply for licences to stay open and serve alcohol for 24 hours a day. This means that round-the-clock drinking (in England and Wales) is now a reality.

Within the first month of it becoming law, over 1,000 pubs, clubs and supermarkets had been granted 24-hour licences to sell alcohol. A further 40 per cent of premises had applied to vary their licences to either extend opening times by an hour or two, or to offer late food or entertainment. Many more establishments have since renewed their licences. In 2008/9 Scotland will join England and Wales when New Licensing Laws come in to effect.

[edit] Canada

  • British Columbia - Last call is 2 a.m. province wide, may purchase "off sales" bottled beer and the like from local Pubs until 2300h.
  • Alberta - Last call and sale of alcohol from a store is 2 a.m. province wide.
  • Ontario - Last call is 2 a.m. province wide, although the province has the authority to grant waivers to allow closing at 4 a.m. during special events.
  • Quebec - Last call is 3 a.m. province wide for establishments serving alcohol, while the sale of alcohol from a store is restricted after 11 p.m.

[edit] United States

Last call laws vary widely from state to state, and in most states, cities and towns are free to impose more restrictive regulations. Large metropolitan areas with many towns may have different laws for areas that are only a short distance apart. The following lists should not be considered exhaustive.

[edit] State specific laws

  • Alaska - 5 a.m.; while most cities restrict this further, some do not (primarily smaller Matanuska-Susitna Valley towns), and some villages are dry.
  • Arizona - 2 a.m.
  • Arkansas - 2 a.m.
  • California - Last call statewide is 2 a.m.
  • Delaware - 1 a.m.
  • Florida - Last call set statewide to 2 a.m., some cities have passed exemptions to the law, notably Tampa (3 a.m.), Broward county (4 a.m.) and Miami (5 a.m. in the Miami Entertainment District). Liquor store closing times vary by county.
  • Georgia - Varies by county (most are set at 2 a.m., while others may have different times or no time at all). In Atlanta most bars are allowed to close at 2:30 a.m., but Underground Atlanta can operate until 4 a.m.
  • Iowa - 2 a.m.
  • Kansas - 2 a.m. (in the 17 counties which allow bars without limitation)
  • Maine - 1 a.m.
  • Michigan - 2 a.m.
  • Missouri - 1:30 a.m. in most of the state; 3:00 a.m. in specially-licensed establishments in the two largest metropolises of St. Louis and Kansas City, and their surrounding areas.
  • Minnesota - 1 am in most of the state; 2 a.m. in Minneapolis/St. Paul; Liquor Stores Closed on Sundays, 3.2 beer may be bought in most grocery stores.
  • Nebraska - 1 a.m.
  • Nevada - There is no closing time; bars may stay open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • New Hampshire - 12:45 a.m.
  • New Jersey - Generally, last call statewide is 2 a.m., although there are several exceptions. In some Hudson County cities (Jersey City, Hoboken, etc.), last call is 3 a.m. on weekend nights (presumably to compete with Manhattan bars and clubs). Jersey shore "party" towns, such as Wildwood,Seaside Heights and Atlantic City also have later last calls.
  • New York - Last call is 4 a.m. Although the NY State Liquor authority, pursuant to subdivision eleven of section seventeen, states: where any rule has been adopted in a county on or before April 1st, 1995, further restricting the hours of sale for alcoholic beverages, such restricted hours shall be the hours, during which the sale of alcoholic beverages at retail for on-premises consumption shall not be permitted within such county. Nor shall any person be permitted to consume any alcoholic beverages upon any such premises later than one-half hour after the start of the prohibited hours of sale provided for in this section.
  • Ohio - Last call is 2 a.m. statewide, although establishments may acquire licenses that allow them to serve until 2:30 a.m. Store-bought beer & wine sales stop at 1 a.m. Liquor over 40 proof may only be purchased in state-approved stores - sales stop at 10 p.m.
  • North Carolina - Last Call is 2 a.m. statewide. On weekdays and Saturday alcohol can be sold beginning at 7 a.m., on Sunday alcohol sales begin at noon.
  • Tennessee - 3 a.m.
  • Texas - 2 a.m.
  • Virginia - 2 a.m.. Liquor stores (ABC) closed on Sunday, except for a few select stores. Beer and Wine via grocery sold until 12AM.
  • Washington - 2 a.m. Liquor stores closed on Sunday, except for a few select stores. Beer and Wine via grocery sold until 2AM.
  • Wisconsin - Last call is 2 a.m.. On Saturday and Sunday mornings, last call is 2:30 a.m.

[edit] City specific laws

[edit] Other Countries

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Languages