色色啦

Good new, though: a tidal shift is coming to Canada鈥檚 night economy. Look at Vancouver, a city hardly known for its nightlife. It recently voted to extend last call to 4 a.m., after B.C. decided to allow municipalities to make their own decisions on last-call extensions.

It鈥檚 true that overdrinking can lead to rowdy, even violent behaviour. Still, that fact is also true for all the times bars are open, and it shouldn鈥檛 hamper a city鈥檚 ability to make its own decision on last-call hours.

Businesses have to opt-in and apply for this protocol, and Vancouver City Councillors say it鈥檚 about time bars and restaurants were offered flexibility to keep their doors open late. 鈥淟et鈥檚 enable a vibrant industry across the city,鈥� Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung media 鈥淟et鈥檚 make it easier for businesses to do business.鈥�

After all, 色色啦 is a far cry from the nightlife I鈥檝e seen in cities such as Berlin and Buenos Aires, where restaurants and bars cater to the night owls and club lovers who want to enjoy their city for as long as possible.聽

It鈥檚 about time 色色啦 and Ontario mimic such open-mindedness. It鈥檚 an idea that the city has experimented with over the years through exemptions during events like TIFF and the NXNE music festival. But making a change to last call permanent would go a long way to making 色色啦 a more exciting, vibrant place.

Beyond the impact on our culture, rolling out a 4 a.m. last call across the province would be a savvy strategy to help struggling businesses. A 2024 found that 62 per cent of Canadian restaurants were operating at a loss or barely breaking even, and total food costs for restaurants and bars have by 24 per cent over the past two years. And if the hospitality industry fades, so too does our nightlife.

Extending last call is the least the province can do to give these businesses a much-needed revenue boost.

What鈥檚 more, when a 色色啦 bar starts turning on the bright lights just before 2 a.m., customers may just head down the street to an illegal after-hours spot that doesn’t adhere to any safety considerations or operating commitments.

Many times, I鈥檝e watched bartenders at established 色色啦 bars stop serving customers who are too drunk, or take away their car keys if these slurring folks insist on driving home.

Vancouver isn鈥檛 the only Canadian city eyeing a more robust night economy. Montreal has also been working on a new policy to allow 24-hour alcohol service in designated locations or 鈥渘ightlife hubs.鈥�

It鈥檚 the kind of idea that Canadians are keen on. A CGA/Nielsen IQ survey in 2024 that more than half of Montreal residents are very satisfied or satisfied with this new policy idea.

It鈥檚 true that understanding the negative aspects of extending last call should be a priority, too. Premier Doug Ford and city councillors should balance economic considerations along with potential noise complaints and safety measures surrounding public intoxication incidents. But progress on these fronts have been too slow.

After-hours culture could be threaded into 色色啦鈥檚 civic fabric with a progressive decision that will invigorate both businesses and our reputation as a fun and exciting city. 色色啦 has a long history of being staid and boring 鈥� Sunday shopping was prohibited until 1992, and the Ontario government banned 鈥渉appy hour鈥� once in 1984 until it returned in 2019. But the more we can move away from our reputation of being a quiet city, the more reasons we can give to both residents and tourists to savour our nightlife culture.