i understand that the doctor has spent a lot of time treating the results of late night drinking, but i suspect that he hasn't spent much time out drinking past 2:00 am, himself.

this is actually a classic example of harm reduction. if you shut the bars off at 2:00 does that stop people from drinking? of course not: they find liquor cabinets, if they haven't prepared earlier with a stash in the car, and head to after hours locations to keep drinking - some of which are actually unregulated bars. of course they exist.

the choice that the state has in front of it is whether it wants to let late night drinkers drink in the open or keep them drinking in the shadows, where it's harder to keep them out of trouble.

further, i'm sure toronto will find the same thing that detroit has found: just because the bars can stay open past two doesn't mean they actually will. the hours in detroit are 4:00 am, but there are only a few bars that stay open that late, and usually only on the weekends.

but, the idea that last call sends people home is crazy talk.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/why-this-toronto-er-doctor-is-dead-set-against-extending-last-call-1.4053845