... in response to Cali clubs, posted by cancunhound on Jul 18, 2003The time restriction on clubs and bars within the city limits of Cali used to be midnight by order of the mayor. (A big reason he is not going to get re-elected this time) Then it went up to 1:30 AM for a couple of months. But as of last night, the restriction is back up to 2 AM.
The club and bar owner's argument is, if the FARC or ELN blow something up in the countryside, why should the business owners in Cali have to pay for it. The order the mayor passed down about closing clubs and bars at midnight put a number of places out of business. Blues lost half of its income when this was inacted. There was such an uproar about it, President Uribe even came here to see what was going on. Soon after that visit a compromise was established for a time. Closing time was midnight from Sunday to Thursday. 1:30 AM on Friday and Saturdays. That lasted about a month. Then it just went to 1:30 for all days. Now it's back up to 2 AM. It used to be 3 AM.
The funny thing is, if you call the police to find out what time closing time is, they aren't sure. If you call DAGMA (Sound Police), they aren't sure. If you call the Alcohol Licensing Board, they aren't sure. No one knows for sure. Hell, of a way to do business.