'Last Call' Could Soon Be Much Later In Certain CA Bars

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CALIFORNIA — A new California bill that would allow bars in some downtowns to extend "last call" to 4 a.m. is being championed by several lawmakers and criticized by opponents who call it dangerous.

AB 342, authored by San Francisco Democrats Assemblymember Matt Haney and state Sen. Scott Wiener, would give cities the option to designate some areas as "hospitality zones," which would allow establishments within that zone to keep selling drinks for two hours past the 2 a.m. cutoff.

The bill would also allow cities to create temporary 'Special Event Hospitality Zones'—a potential game-changer for Los Angeles as it gears up to host the 2028 Olympics.

To establish these zones, local governments would need to weigh several factors, including proximity to hotels, walkability, transportation access, public safety plans, and whether the area is culturally, historically and economically suited for extended nightlife.

"We need people in our downtowns. We need them to come here, not just during the day, but at night," Haney told said a press briefing in downtown Los Angeles on Monday morning, according to multiple reports.

Lawmakers behind the bill say it's part of an effort to attract more visitors to downtowns that have struggled to bounce back after the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We have to, as a state, help our cities come back fully and recover," Haney said, according to Cap Radio.

Businesses would be required to pay an annual $2,500 fee for an "additional hours" license.

"We’re not talking about making every city in California stay open until 4 a.m." Haney said. “We’re talking about creating spaces in our downtowns where it makes sense, where we know it will benefit the neighborhood.”

The bill, which would take effect in January 2026, will have its next hearing on April 23.

However, not everyone is a fan of the bill.

Advocacy group Alcohol Justice is urging the Assembly to vote against the proposal later this month.

"This bill is a reckless attempt to prioritize alcohol industry profits over the well-being of Californians," said Cruz Avila, Executive Director of Alcohol Justice. "The data is clear: extending last call to 4 a.m. will lead to more drunk driving, more injuries, and more lives lost. California cannot afford to ignore the science or the human cost of this policy."

Lawmakers last attempted to extend bar hours in 2018, but Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed the proposal. While Brown acknowledged that cities and businesses were in favor of the potential for more revenue, he urged that it would increase drunk driving.

“Without question, these two extra hours will result in more drinking,” Brown wrote. “California’s laws regulating late night drinking have been on the books since 1913. I believe we have enough mischief from midnight to 2 without adding two more hours of mayhem.”

It remains to be seen how this bill will fare as Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a controversial law that extended drinking hours to 4 a.m. for a pilot program last year, but it was only for those who belong to an exclusive club inside Inglewood's Intuit Dome arena.