Michigan Bars Could Stay Open Until 4 AM Under Bill Headed To The House

LANSING (WWJ/AP) - A Michigan legislative committee has approved a bill to let some bars stay open two extra hours on weekends until 4 a.m.

The Senate passed the bill 22-14 Thursday. It now goes to the House.

The bill let bars and restaurants that pay a $10,000 annual fee sell alcoholic drinks until 4 a.m. Eighty-five percent of the money would go to local police, 10 percent to the state Liquor Control Commission and 5 percent to the communities where the permit is issued.

Nico Gatzaros, owner of London Chop House and Fishbones, supports the bill.

"The idea behind this change in the law is to keep a competitive advantage with the other towns in our region, Chicago, New York and even Miami, these other major players in the United States that have had this rule for decades -- and it hasn't affected them adversely one bit," Gatzaros told WWJ's Charlie Langton.

Gatzaros said the whole idea is to bring people and new business downtown Detroit, while giving the ones already here a chance to thrive.

"It would attract more conventions, it would be more beneficial for the casinos, the hotels, the limousines," he said. "I think it will draw a lot of people to the downtown area."

Mike Tobias of the group Michigan Alcohol Policy says the change would be "terrible" for public health and safety.

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