22 Brooklyn bars serving alcohol all night long for New Year’s

December 20, 2019 Scott Enman

Partygoers toast with their glasses. Photo: Pexels

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It’s a scene all too familiar on weekends. As the clock nears 4 a.m., there’s a mass migration to the bar as partygoers attempt to purchase their last drinks of the evening before venues are legally required to stop selling alcohol.

On New Year’s Eve, however, bars, clubs and restaurants can request all night permits from the State Liquor Authority. It’s the only day that the authority considers all night licenses. If approved, the permit allows establishments to serve alcohol nonstop between 4 and 8 a.m. when sales are normally banned in New York City. (On Sundays, sales aren’t permitted between 4 and 10 a.m.)

“Current licenses must apply for the all night permit 45 days in advance and provide prior notification to their local police department,” William Crowley of the SLA told the Brooklyn Eagle. “The SLA considers the licensees disciplinary history, recommendations from the local police department and whether the licensee has adequate security plans in place when reviewing the applications.”

In Brooklyn, 22 venues from Gravesend to East Williamsburg have been approved this year. Several others had their requests denied, for example, if they have outstanding issues.

Manhattan had the most approved permits at 98, with Queens coming in second at 44. The Bronx had 20 approved, while Staten Island — apparently the party pooper of the five boroughs — had zero.

Six of Brooklyn’s approved permits are located in East Williamsburg or on the Bushwick border where there are a cluster of clubs, like Elsewhere, Studio 299 and House of Yes.

Gowanus’ two clubs, Public Records and Quantum (formerly Analog BKNY), also had their all night permits approved. The other licenses are scattered throughout the borough with Williamsburg having two, Cypress Hills having three and the East Flatbush area boasting five.

All venues were required to submit their applications by Nov. 16. Those that had their permits denied can appeal it. The SLA then makes a determination in 10 days.

Not everyone is celebrating the late-night festivities, however.

“Many of the bartenders I talk to, they tell me the people are unconscious by 2 o’clock,” said Tom Burrows, chair of Community Board 1’s SLA Committee. “I don’t know why they need to stay open until 6.”

Follow reporter Scott Enman on Twitter.