Vote was 8-3 by Vancouver body
Jack Keating and John Bermingham
Province
Vancouver‘s downtown bars will remain open until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, city council decided last night.
Council voted 8-3 against turning the clock back to 2 a.m. for closing times at downtown bars and pubs.
Council also retained bar openings until 4 a.m. on most long weekends and certain “special occasions” and has asked city staff to report back on extending the entertainment district to the north end of the Granville Street Bridge and into the so-called Davie Village between Burrard and Bute streets.
Council was following the recommendations of a city staff report on drinking laws and closing times that included liquor policies from cities around the world.
“This puts Vancouver more in step with the rest of the world,” said Coun. Jim Green, who moved a motion on expanding the entertainment zone to the north end of the Granville bridge. “When you’re supporting live entertainment and local bands you’re really helping the economy.”
About 30 downtown bars have been staying open until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights — city council in May rolled their weekend hours back from 4 a.m. closings, which began on July 4, 2003, because of policing costs. “It retains the status quo and we’re moving closer to making it permanent,” said John Teti, chairman of Bar Watch.
The B.C. government lets bars stay open from 9 a.m. to 4 a.m, but municipal governments can impose earlier closing times.
“We clearly understand that it’s very, very difficult for the bars in Vancouver to be open until 4 a.m. if all the surrounding communities are only open until 2 a.m.,” said Teti. “We don’t want that migration.”
Staff will also consult with Victoria and report back on the Entertainment District — the 700, 800 and 900 blocks Granville Street — having the right to stay open until 3 a.m. seven nights a week.
“It’s possible that some bars might be open seven days a week until 3 a.m.,” said Teti. “The market place will determine that.”
Barwatch members have put in video cameras, do hand-wanding for weapons at entries, run ID checks and pay policing costs.
Owners have also enforced city guidelines on sidewalk lineups, telling patrons to stand on one side of a white line.
For 100 extra hours of bar-time, Barwatch is paying for 13,000 police hours, at double-time.
© The Vancouver Province 2004
