Montreal mayor: Extend last call to 6 a.m.

MONTREAL – Montreal’s mayor said that letting bars sell booze until 6 a.m. might help curb security problems after last call.

Denis Coderre is proposing a pilot project that would let the city’s bars stay serve an extra three hours.

This would leave only a two-hour gap when bars couldn’t serve alcohol between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m.

Coderre said the current 3 a.m. last call causes security and noise problems because too many people head out into the streets at the same time.

He gave few details of the proposal, but said it would lead to extensive consultations with the public and stakeholders.

Any decision to change licensing hours must be endorsed by the province, which fixes the hours bars are allowed to operate.