A proposal that could allow local bars to push last call as late as 4am has passed the first round in California’s state legislature and is on its way to a vote before the full state Senate. That is as far as any proposal of this kind has ever made it, which means this could actually be happening.
State Senator Scott Wiener of San Francisco is behind the proposal, known as the Let Our Communities Adjust Late Night Act (LOCALNA). It wouldn’t mandate any changes itself, but would simply open the the door for individual city governments to push back the mandatory last call times if they wanted to do so.
If LOCALNA does become law, a city like Los Angeles or San Francisco might opt to allow bars to stay open until 4am any night of the week, while other communities might choose to only allow the late hours on weekends or special occasions. Towns can also choose to make no change to opening hours at all, if residents aren’t the late-night type. It would, of course, remain up to any individual bar how late they operate within the allowed window.
If the Senate vote goes well for the bill, it won’t be a sure thing yet. There would still need to be an Assembly vote and a signature from the governor. That would then allow city governments to start the process of deciding if they want to allow bars in their jurisdiction to take advantage of the later hour option. So you won’t be drinking in the club until the wee hours immediately (not legally, at least), but the wheels do seem to be in motion. Late late nights, here we come.
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