Lawmaker Proposes Extending Alcohol Sales to 4 a.m.

A state lawmaker in Philadelphia wants to reinvigorate the city’s nightlife by extending the sale of alcohol an extra two hours.

According to a statement on his website, State Rep. Jordan Harris (D-186), plans to introduce legislation which would amend the Liquor Code to allow businesses to apply for extended use permits authorizing the sale of alcohol beyond 2 a.m. to 4 a.m.

This would not be a blanket loosening of sales restrictions, the release says. Instead, establishments seeking to take advantage of the opportunity must apply for an extended use permit. That means the owners will have to appear in a public hearing and make their case for permission to serve past the current 2 a.m. limit. Local governing bodies would retain the ability to refuse the extended license based on the welfare, health, peace or morals of the municipality.

“This legislation would create a more attractive Pennsylvania and further a goal of appealing to young professionals and millennials who can greatly improve our local economies,” Harris said in the statement. “Philadelphia especially has lagged behind other major cities within a short radius as far as nightlife is concerned, and this bill would put our city on par with some of the largest cities in the country as far as having a healthy, vibrant nightlife.”

The planned bill would charge a business 10 percent of the yearly fee it pays to have a liquor license to have an extended permit license, with 50 percent of that total going to the business’ municipality and 50 percent going to the State Stores Fund.

State Rep. Duane Milne (R-167) disagrees with Harris’ approach to encourage the younger generation to stay in the cities, calling the legislation a “condescending stereotype” that does not give enough credit to the young professionals. Citing his experience interacting with the mid-20s crowd as an associate professor of political science at West Chester University, Milne says they are more sophisticated.

A desirable environment for them means good public services, an affordable cost of living, secure neighborhoods – everything it means to the rest of us,” said Milne in a statement to Patch. “Pennsylvania’s downtowns won’t find their quality of life enhanced by a new public-safety hazard, which this idea would entail.”

According to PhillyMag.com, bars in Washington, D.C. remain open until 3 a.m., while alcohol is served until 4 a.m. in New York City. The legislation has not yet been introduced.