Michigan House bill would allow bars to stay open until 4 a.m.

LANSING, Mich.— Those working the late shift could catch last call and bars could pocket extra sales after missing out heavily during coronavirus restrictions under legislation under consideration in Michigan that would allow alcohol sales at bars and restaurants until 4 a.m.

Bill sponsor Rep. Ryan Berman testified in front of a state House committee last week that the measure would allow local municipalities to adopt their own rules to extend the pre-pandemic cutoff of 2 a.m. to make it 4 a.m.

Currently, indoor dining, including bars has a 10 p.m. curfew due to state COVID-19 restrictions. Berman said having the extension ready and waiting for businesses is important to help them financially recover from the pandemic because there's a market for late night alcohol sales.

"Once that is lifted it gives the local establishments, restaurants, bars, the ability to make up some lost time," the Commerce Township Republican said. "Not everybody, in what we're learning, has the same schedule. Not everybody works 9 to 5, not everybody is on the same sleep schedule. People work nights, people work weekends, different shifts."

Read more: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2021/02/28/michigan-house-bill-bars-stay-open-2-hours-later/6860977002/