Should Los Angeles extend bar hours to 4am? (Westwood: unemployment, taxi)

[majoun]

Originally Posted by Island_OnThe_Land

Do locals (or visitors) agree that Los Angeles should extend the hours bars can serve liquor to 4am (like SO MANY other big cities do in USA AND indeed the world)??

Any feedback as to why we have this crazy tradition of last call at 2am? What regulations or laws would need to change (at the state or local level)?

Also, I don't buy the argument that the warm weather and the fitness craze in LA is a good historical reason we should have implemented this tradition. Look at cities like Miami that are very warm weather yet manage to have bars/clubs that serve alcohol very late (4am or 5am, etc). Also, they are very car dependent in Miami.

It has to do with concerns of a wholly different era that no longer apply.

The state 2 AM closing law had to do with not having people on the streets just in case Japanese Zeros decided to strike at Los Angeles, San Francisco, or San Diego as they had at Pearl Harbor.

Since no California city faces the threat of aerial bombing (at least not from Japan) in the 2010s, the reason for said law is obsolete and it should be done away with in order to boost business.

Feel free to disagree with me....but I think the so called entertaiment capital of the world should be able to party as late as Las Vegas, Miami, NYC, Chicago, New Orleans, etc.

I'm in full agreement with you...

[tijlover]

Originally Posted by jbunniii

There are enough drunks on the road at 2am as it is. Do we really want them on the road after 5am instead? There are people already commuting at that hour.

First of all, you're assuming everybody that goes to bars leave drunk. Some sip Coca Cola all night.

Secondly, it's very trendy to bully drunk drivers today, just because MADD has the spotlight on them.

It's been proven, from studies, sleep-deprived drivers, those that text while driving are equally as dangerous as drunk drivers. Yet, the spotlight isn't on them. No MASDD or MATWD movements yet.

I daydream while I drive. I'll probably get into an accident some day, sober, but driving under the influence of daydreaming. No MADDD movement yet for my kind. Thank God for that, or I'd have my license taken away!

Any number of dangerous drivers on the road who are stone sober 100% of the time. Just having the bright sun in your eyes at the wrong time, wrong place can lead to an accident.

IMO, keep the bars open til 6am!

[Island_OnThe_Land]

Originally Posted by majoun

It has to do with concerns of a wholly different era that no longer apply.

The state 2 AM closing law had to do with not having people on the streets just in case Japanese Zeros decided to strike at Los Angeles, San Francisco, or San Diego as they had at Pearl Harbor.

Since no California city faces the threat of aerial bombing (at least not from Japan) in the 2010s, the reason for said law is obsolete and it should be done away with in order to boost business.



I'm in full agreement with you...

Very interesting....I had no idea.

I wonder if there have been any legislative proposals to END this silly practice of closing bars at 2am. Sadly once people get used to a certain custom or practice it becomes very hard to change.

[hipcat]

It's an old thread. But does anyone agree with extending the bar/club hours past 2 am?

[jm1982]

Personally it wouldn't make a big difference for me. I don't have much of a desire to stay out that late at night drinking.

What's your take on it?

[PDF]

NYC has it because it can truly benefit from the law. I'm not sure LA really needs it.

[jm1982]

I would worry about the drunk driving situation. Also i'm sure homeowners groups wouldn't be thrilled about it.

[PDF]

A bigger issue for me would be public transit not running past midnight usually. I'm sure munchitup can attest to that from his living in Boston, subway shuts down before 1 AM but people don't leave the bars until 2 and have to call a cab.

[hollaathenry]

yes! this would make an already awesome city even better!

[jm1982]

One idea might be to make an entertainment district like I've heard they do in some cities , maybe in this area places could stay open until 4am or allowed to stay open around the clock. Somewhere near subway like Hollywood Blvd or in DTLA would be a good place to give that designation.