Pa. House GOP not keen on later bar closings
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(Photo via ShutterStock)
A proposal to give night owls a couple more hours at the bar doesn’t appear to be on the fast-track in the Republican-controlled Pennsylvania House.
The plan would let bars and restaurants apply for the power to keep serving alcohol until 4 o’clock in the morning.
“I’m not sure keeping bars open ‘til 4 a.m. is a priority in the House right now, we’ve got bigger issues to deal with,” said GOP House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana). “I represent a college town so I’m not sure I want to keep the bars open an extra two hours with 15,000 college students.”
The proposal, not yet introduced in the House, is backed by Rep. Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia), who said the change could attract more young people to the commonwealth, perhaps making it more competitive with neighboring states.
“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,” said Harris in a written statement.
Under Pennsylvania law, bars have to stop serving alcohol at two in the morning and clubs are cut off at 3 a.m.
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