Bartender Jesse Meredith of the Cribbs Kitchen in downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina shows how to make a mocktail on Feb. 4, 2022. This is the Sweet as Peaches mocktails which is white tea, lemon juice, peach puree and simple syrup.
Los Angeles, California – A group of California lawmakers is once again pushing to extend alcohol service hours past the state’s longstanding 2 a.m. cutoff, aiming to revitalize downtown economies and bolster tourism in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) unveiled Assembly Bill 342 during a news conference in downtown Los Angeles on Monday morning. The bill would give cities and counties the option—not a mandate—to extend alcohol service hours to 4 a.m. in designated “Hospitality Zones” on weekends and state holidays.
“This bill is about economic recovery, supporting our nightlife economy, and helping cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco bounce back,” Haney said. “It’s also about letting local governments make the decisions that work best for their communities.”
Under AB 342, local governments would be permitted to create Hospitality Zones in areas with strong tourism potential and nightlife activity. To qualify, municipalities would need to evaluate factors including public safety, transportation access, walkability, hotel availability, and proximity to venues like convention centers.
The bill also includes a provision for “Special Events Hospitality Zones,” which would allow cities to temporarily extend bar hours for up to one month for major events such as music festivals, the World Cup, or the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Unlike previous legislation that narrowly targeted Palm Springs, West Hollywood, and San Francisco, AB 342 takes a broader approach by allowing any interested city to opt in—provided they meet planning and public safety requirements.
A similar bill was introduced several years ago but failed to gain enough support amid concerns over public safety and alcohol-related incidents. This time, Haney and his colleagues are framing the bill as a targeted tool for economic growth, not a blanket change to statewide alcohol laws.
Critics of extended bar hours have warned in the past that longer drinking windows could strain police departments, increase DUI risks, and raise noise complaints in residential areas. Haney acknowledged those concerns but emphasized that the bill includes local control and safeguards to mitigate negative impacts.
If passed, the legislation could reshape California’s nightlife landscape—particularly in major urban centers still grappling with economic recovery post-pandemic. Cities would still retain the power to reject or limit Hospitality Zones altogether.
AB 342 is expected to face committee hearings in the coming weeks.
