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Last Call At 4 A.M. Instead Of 2 A.M.?

SCRANTON — The possibility that last call at areas bars and restaurant could come two hours later than it does now. A state lawmaker says he plans to intr...

SCRANTON -- The possibility that last call at areas bars and restaurant could come two hours later than it does now.

A state lawmaker says he plans to introduce legislation at the state capitol that would extend hours for alcohol sales from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m.

In the Electric City, the saying goes there`s no party like a Scranton party.

Now what if that party went on for two extra hours?

“It would be nice because it`d be so convenient for us as well to have fun instead of: ‘OK we got to go all the way to New York for the weekend’,” said Jackisha Santiago, a student at Lackawanna College.

A state representative in Philadelphia says he plans to introduce legislation that would extend the hours for the sale of alcohol from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m.

Representative Jordan Harris (D-Phila.) says allowing bars to stay open late would appeal to young professionals and help the local economy by creating “…an environment where the nightlife encourages young people who become educated here to stay in our Commonwealth to live, work and play.”

Students at area colleges welcome the idea.

“You have Scranton U up the block and you got Lackawanna down the block, everybody wants to party, so if there`s some place that would stay open until 4, it would get business,” said Mabel Torres, a student at Lackawanna College.

If it passes into law, it would be up to individual establishments to get permits from their local municipalities for extended hours.

Places such as Kildare`s and Backyard Ale House says it`s something they`d consider.

“Certainly welcome the opportunity to make some more money, stay open later but I also think it would present some challenges as a transition, just people used to that 2 a.m.,” said Patrick Nasser at Backyard Ale House.

“We`d have to look into it in the long term, maybe Monday through Sunday it wouldn’t be feasible but perhaps maybe the weekend,” said Barry Nichols.

This also means some places will chose to stay with the 2 a.m.  closing time.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving said that could led to people to “`barhopping` to find establishments with later closing hours. Too often, the search for `one last drink` has dangerous consequences.”

“Are you going to have more people out? Yes but then you have people staying out until later in the morning and being drunker,” said David Morrison from Scranton.

There would be a fee if establishments want to stay open later with the money collected from that going back to the local municipality and the State Stores Fund.

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