Party until 3:00 a.m.? Kamloops council to decide on extending New Year’s hours for bars and nightclubs
KAMLOOPS — Baby, well, it’s “3AM” on New Year’s Day and Kamloops bars and nightclubs may still be open.
In a report ahead of its regular meeting on Tuesday (Dec. 5), Kamloops council will decide if liquor primary licensed establishments can serve alcohol until 3:00 a.m. on New Year’s Eve for 2023. The decision comes after a request from the Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association (Downtown Kamloops).
Within the City of Kamloops, businesses defined as “neighbourhood pubs” under the zoning bylaw can remain open until 1:00 a.m. while nightclubs and cabarets can remain open until 2:00 a.m. Although provincial liquor licensing regulations allow food and liquor establishments to stay open until 4:00 a.m., that is provided food is available to customers, unless local bylaws prohibit it.
Previously, Kamloops city staff have discouraged requests for hour extensions beyond 2:00 a.m. due to Kamloops RCMP saying they would “negatively impact policing resources.” Meantime, Downtown Kamloops says the city has historically allowed hour extensions past 2:00 a.m. on New Year’s Eve, although city staff say liquor establishments who did may have done so without formal permission from the city.
