Last Call time in PA? (York: home, buying, closing)

[stolpioni]

I just wonder, when is the "last call" at bars/clubs in PA or mostly interesting Philly?

[Dawne]

I believe it's standard practice to close the doors at 2:00 a.m. Not sure if that's last call or if that happens shortly before then.

[Johnny C]

PA law says no alcohol can be purchased past 2:00 AM. Patrons are allowed to continue to consume the beverages until 2:30 AM, and then must leave the premises. (There are exceptions to this, such as for private clubs who may stay open later, if they wish).

Thus, many bars choose to give "last call" anywhere from 1:30 to 2:00 AM so they can meet the legal requirements stated above. A smaller bar with a smaller crowd can push the last call right up until the 2:00 deadline, but more crowded places usually give last call a bit earlier so they can serve everyone in time and still get them out of the building by 2:30.

[stolpioni]

Ok, it's a bit sad acctually.
Does this go for all states in the northeast?
I heard New York can serve until 4 AM.

[PeterRabbit]

I think you can go to a bar in NYC 24/7.

A lot of states have last call at 2:00 A.M. It's up to the individual state. Our country clubs can't serve after 3:00 A.M. You can join a drinking type of club for a few bucks a year and they never have to close.

[pman]

Originally Posted by stolpioni

Ok, it's a bit sad acctually.
Does this go for all states in the northeast?
I heard New York can serve until 4 AM.

NY in Buffalo, albany, and NYC are 4 am...used to be 24 hours. 2 am is pretty common though and they seem to boot people earlier in Baltimore and Boston. Delaware used to be 1 am and you could stay til two, not sure if it's changed. Arizona only recently moved their closing time to 2 am. Johnny C-can you bring your own to a restaurant at, say, 3 am?

[Johnny C]

Originally Posted by pman

Johnny C-can you bring your own to a restaurant at, say, 3 am?

Hmm - good question. I bartended for around 6 years, and this came up a time or two.

The key to the law is that you cannot purchase alcohol after 2AM from the establishment holding the liquor license, and you cannot consume any of the alcohol that you purchased there after 2:30. This is designed to keep people from buying a ton of booze just before last call, and sitting around until dawn drinking it all.

It would be very hard for the LCB to enforce your question - how would they know what was bought before 2AM at the bar and what was brought in after? I would say that bringing in your own liquor would be dooable, but only if you knew the owner and the doors were locked after 2:30 (the establishment was clearly "closed").

Then, it would be just like drinking at your home or a private residence after hours, which is of course legal.

[Tiger Beer]

NY...I don't know about the entire state. BUT, when I lived in NYC (1998-2000), it was always 4am, and it was real easy to stay up that late, as so many things going on. Then the after-hour clubs would start up. But legally they had to close at 4am.

I think most places in the U.S. are generally 1am or 2am.

But, NYC was definetely 4am. I also read on the Kentucky Forums that KENTUCKY is 4am, and Louisville has a pretty lively scene, which is interesting.

The only place I know of that I believe is 24 hours, is Nevada. Possibly New Orleans too?

[JohnZ963]

What I've always wondered is, how the heck do working people stay awake until 3-4am on a Friday night while drinking?

[Johnny C]

Originally Posted by JohnZ963

What I've always wondered is, how the heck do working people stay awake until 3-4am on a Friday night while drinking?

It's called "Red Bull"...