Extended Bar Hours for FIFA World Cup
McGuinty Government Provides Special Exemption During World Cup Celebrations
Ontario will allow licensed bars and restaurants to serve alcoholic beverages an hour earlier during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The province recognizes the significance of the World Cup to many people in this province and because of that, it is making this special exemption to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario’s (AGCO) policy on extended bar and restaurant hours.
From June 11 to July 11, 2010, bars and restaurants in municipalities across the province will have approval to open at 10:00 a.m., unless a municipality objects in writing to the AGCO.
The games are being telecast from South Africa, which represents a six-hour time difference within Ontario – some games will start as early as 7:30 a.m. Eastern Standard time.
QUICK FACTS
- Standard service hours for the province of Ontario are from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., with certain exceptions. Allowing the sale of alcohol an hour earlier could provide an important economic boost to bars, restaurants and cafes across the province.
- The AGCO administers the Liquor Licence Act in Ontario and reports to the province’s Minister of Consumer Services.
