Last call (bar term)


In a bar, a last call is an made shortly before the bar closes for the night, informing patrons of their last chance to buy alcoholic beverages. There are various means to make the signal, like ringing a bell, flashing the lights, or announcing verbally.
Last call times are often legally mandated and vary widely globally as well as locally. Legislation's purposes include reducing late night noise in the neighborhood, traffic crashes, violence, and alcohol related health problems.

List of last call times around the world

Australia

In New South Wales, there is no specified closing time, but in residential areas, bars are often required to close at midnight. In non-residential areas, some bars are open 24 hours. However, a six-hour daily closure period applies to new licenses granted from 30 October 2008, which is nominated depending on individual and community circumstances.
During a significant part of the early 20th century, bars in Australia and New Zealand were closed at 6 p.m. by law. The resulting rush to buy drinks after work was known as the six o'clock swill.

Austria

Bar closing hours in Austria are regulated by the federated states. In most states bars must close at 4 a.m. although many places have special permits to close later. In the capital, Vienna, bars and clubs are allowed to stay open until 6 a.m. Alcohol is allowed to be served until the bar or club closes.

Belgium

There is no legally mandated last call in Belgium; many bars will stay open all night.

Brazil

There is no legally mandated last call in Brazil; many bars will stay open all night. However, some cities have laws that require bars to close during the early morning hours.

Canada

Many bars, KTVs and nightclubs have no specific last call and will continue to sell alcohol and stay open provided there are paying customers present. However, during sensitive times where national security is increased, closing times may be in effect in some cities between 1 and 2 a.m. Alcohol is sold through retailers 24 hours a day.

Croatia

Establishments that serve drinks may register as bars and then may be open in inhabited areas only indoors and only between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., but no such restrictions exist if bars are located outside inhabited areas. Various exceptions can be made for bars located in transit facilities, if approved by the local authorities, etc. The prescribed working hours for bars are a frequent point of contention between city authorities and local businessmen, particularly during the summer tourist season.

France

The French Republic has an alcohol curfew starting at 2:00 a.m. exempting non-religious National Holidays. Not applicable to residential dwellings.

Finland

Bars are allowed to serve drinks until 1:30 a.m., but a provincial government may at the proprietor's request, grant extensions up to 4 a.m. Extensions require the establishment to maintain a higher standard of amenities, service and entertainment by, for example, providing a coat check, entertainment programming such as a DJ or live music, and even general cleanliness and "look and feel" count. The laws were loosened beginning of 2018.
A last call is not announced per se, but as a custom, the lights are flashed a few times to notify the customers that serving drinks is over.

Germany

Bar closing hours in Germany are regulated by the federated states or cities. Since the 2000s, many federated states and cities have none or relaxed regulations. In many states and cities bars are open as long as there are customers.
Open-air locations such as beer gardens often must close at 11 p.m. or 12 a.m. to reduce noise pollution. Exceptions may exist for weekends, Carnival and New Year's Eve. Not all cities strictly enforce the regulation.

Greece

In Greece, all bars, cafeterias, clubs and the like will stay open as long as there are customers inside. Usually, cafeterias stay open until 11 p.m., bars until 2 a.m. and clubs until early in the morning, but there is no last call. In 1994, Stelios Papathemelis, the Minister for Public Order, passed a law mandating closing of all bars at 2 a.m. The law was widely unpopular, never materialized fully and was abolished a few years later.

India

India closing time of bars vary in different states. In Delhi it is 1am, Mumbai 1:30am, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata at midnight. In Chandigarh it is 1 a.m. weekdays and 2 a.m. weekends. In Bangalore it is 11:30 p.m. on weekdays and 1am on Friday and Saturday nights.

Ireland

Bar closing hours are governed by the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2000. Generally, bars must close at 23:30 Sunday to Thursday and 00:30 on Friday and Saturday. There are special provisions for certain holidays and festivals. However, bars may get an extended license until 02:30 any night.

Israel

In Israel, there are no specific closing times and the country has liberal alcohol laws. Bars and clubs in entertainment districts will serve alcohol practically 24 hours a day, while in residential districts local regulations apply; establishments that serve alcohol outside may often have to call their guests inside after midnight or even close completely.
In 2006, Knesset member Ruhama Avraham attempted to pass a bill in parliament that would forbid selling alcohol between 2 and 6 a.m. The bill faced severe resistance from bar and restaurant owners and finally was drawn back.
In Tel Aviv, bars are fined for remaining open past 1 a.m. Though few bars actually close at that time, they are forced to pay the "back-door" tax to the municipality, with no recourse to the national government. A number of bars are contemplated closing at the required time and during internationally promoted events such as Gay Pride Week in protest of the city's underhanded hypocrisy in promoting itself as "the city that never sleeps" but also fining the very establishments that make it such a hot tourist spot.
Alcohol is no longer sold around the clock in grocery stores, and no sales are allowed between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.***

Italy

Italy does not have a legally mandated closing time. Alcohol may be served or sold anywhere 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
In Rome, an ordinance was passed in January 2009 to make 2 a.m. the last call in Campo de' Fiori and the neighbourhoods of Trastevere and Testaccio. The new last call time for these areas was initiated to curtail nighttime commotion in those popular parts of Rome.

Japan

Japan does not have a legally mandated closing time. Alcohol may be served or sold anywhere 24 hours a day, Five days work week and may close for weekends.

New Zealand

Until December 18, 2013, bars could close at any time they wanted. However, since December 18, 2013, all bars and nightclubs must close at 2 am. Special conditions apply on Holy/ Maundy Thursday, Holy Saturday, the day before ANZAC day and Christmas Eve, when bars must close their doors by midnight. There was a time pubs closed at 6 pm and did not open on Sundays*.

Norway

Last call laws vary.
;City-specific laws:
Out of the 429 counties of Norway, almost 50% have established a closing time or "last call" at 2 a.m. Only 1 in 7 counties serves drinks until the maximum allowance at 3 a.m. That is a major decrease over the last few years because of the government's belief that reduced drinking hours equal less fighting, noise, disturbance, etc.

Sweden

In Sweden, explicit last calls do not take place, as it would violate a political principle not to encourage people to drink more. The latest allowed closing time of bars and restaurant is decided by the municipality but regulated by national laws and rules. The standard latest time is 1 a.m. But in many cities a later time can be allowed on some conditions, like high security and staff educated in responsible serving of alcohol. In some of the largest cities, a closing time as late as 5 a.m. occurs.

Turkey

Turkey does not have a legally mandated closing time. Since 2005 Alcohol may be served or sold five days workweek and may close for weekends. In the new Turkish system, Alcohol is no longer sold around the clock in grocery stores, and no sales are allowed.***

United States

In the U.S., the last call time varies mostly on state, county and/or municipality.
;State-specific laws:
;City-specific laws:
The average "Last Call" time is between 11 PM and 1 AM in municipalities like Birmingham and London. This information was taken from two hundred bars from 2014 to 2016. Bars and clubs can apply for individual licenses allowing them to close at any time between 11 pm and 3 am. Some establishments in big cities have 24*-hour licenses.