Published
Mon, Oct 1, 2018, 19:15
- "I believe we have enough mischief from midnight to 2 AM without adding two more hours of mayhem."
Senate Bill 905, which would have allowed nine California cities to serve alcohol until 4 AM, was vetoed by Governor Jerry Brown on Friday.
"Without question, these two extra hours will result in more drinking," Brown wrote in a letter accompanying the veto. "California's laws regulating late night drinking have been on the books since 1913. I believe we have enough mischief from midnight to 2 AM without adding two more hours of mayhem... The business and cities in support of this bill see that as a good source of revenue. The California Highway Patrol, however strongly believes that this increased drinking will lead to more drunk driving."
As previously reported, Senate Bill 905 would allow bars and clubs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, West Hollywood, Long Beach, Palm Springs, Sacramento, Coachella and Cathedral City to extend last call from 2 AM to 4 AM, pending approval from the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, as part of a pilot program starting in 2021. The bill, brought by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), made it further than a string of previous efforts prior to Friday's veto.
"We should embrace and support our nightlife industry which brings billions of revenue to our state and employs millions of people," Wiener said following the veto. "It is a shame that we will continue to stifle our nightlife economy, but I remain committed to modernizing these outdated laws."
Dance music promoters in California cities often find their venue options and ability to turn a profit limited by the 2 AM alcohol curfew. The curfew puts California nightclubs at a disadvantage and leads to dance music events being held in unlicensed venues.