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As sad as it is, all bars, restaurants and clubs have to close for the night. For the West coast that means by 2 a.m you’ll be on your way to your next destination, wherever that may be. For the bartender, barback, waitstaff and bouncers, 2 a.m. means the beginning of the second leg of the job. The money needs to be counted, tabs need to be closed, things need to be cleaned, paper work needs to be done and supplies need to be restocked, a lot of which can’t be done with customers in the place. And the longer it takes to get the customers out the longer it takes for the bartenders to begin the hard work of clean up.
Instead of just throwing up the ugly lights and kicking everyone out bartenders do a courtesy “last call” announcement usually a half an hour before. Some bartenders flash the lights or ring a bell while other bartenders will lower the music and yell “last call” at the top of their lungs. If at that point you want another drink then is the time to order it because you will only have until 1:59 to finish it. And if you haven’t finished it you’ll have top leave it, regardless of how expensive it was.
Once last call is given, a bartender will usually make sure everyone gets served one more time. If it’s a busy night they may give last call early enough so everyone can get one more round and have time to finish it. After that no more drinks will be made. Telling us you didn’t hear last call goes right up there with "the busser took my full drink," and will get you just as far. Demanding to be sold a drink at 1:55 a.m. with the promise that you’ll finish it in four minutes is a scary proposition to give any bartender and more of a reason for us not to sell you one. Not only does it scream ‘alcoholic’ but the effects will hit you after you walk out the door, most likely while you’re driving.
Think about it. Know when to say when, seriously.
The Alcohol and Beverage Control in California has mandated that all alcoholic beverages are to be off the floor by 2 a.m.–so we're not being mean, just following the rules. Should there be an undercover ABC officer on the premise at 2 a.m.–and it’s happened as they like to hide in the bathrooms–and if there are drinks still in customer’s hands, the bar, bartenders and in some cases the customer will get fined. ABC doesn’t joke around and the fines are pretty hefty. So when we ask you to put down your drinks and get out, we mean it.
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