Booze extension too late for NYE party

| 20/12/2017 | 206 Comments

(CNS): Bars and clubs will be bringing in 2018 with more of a whimper than a bang on 31 December as, once again, legislation that prevents loud or live music and dancing on Sundays at liquor licenced premises will hamper the New Year’s Eve celebrations. Government officials announced that the Liquor Licensing Board has approved a blanket extension to booze licences for New Year’s Day starting at one minute past midnight on Monday, 1 January, but there is nothing the board can do about the music, dancing and drinking rules before that time.

Officials said that the regular licensing conditions apply to Sunday, 31 December 2017.

Bar owners as well as the wider community have been taking to social media over the last few days to raise their concerns about how much of an impact this legislation has on their business every time New Year’s Eve falls on a Sunday.

CNS reached out to the Department of Commerce and Investment about the issue earlier this week. Commerce Minister Joey Hew said that the law was “very clear on what is allowed on Christmas Day, Good Friday and Sundays. Any changes to the law would require legislation as there is no provision for Cabinet or the Board to change them.”

As the LLB goes through the process of asking government to amend the legislation to introduce at least some limited hours of sale for liquor stores on Sundays, the question of changing the Music and Dance Law to provide for the combination of music and alcohol in licensed premises overnight on Saturday/Sunday and throughout the rest of Sunday still does not appear to be on the agenda.

The situation this year also impacts Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so the board has approved a blanket extension for Tuesday, 26 December, starting at one minute past midnight until 4:00am.

The extension applies to all retail, wine and beer, restaurant, and hotel licences on both Tuesday, 26 December, and Monday, 1 January.

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Comments (206)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Just try and stop these happy feet!! *queue snoopy dance*

  2. James says:

    Why change the law to suit few people.spend christmas in miami and christmas day every thing is closed.do we get them to change there laws to open on christmas day.

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  3. "Anonymousir" says:

    Anyone remember what happened last time New Years Eve fell on Sunday?? Because this is not the First Time!! Last Time we were allowed to party.

  4. Anonymous says:

    I don’t know what all the fuss is about. This has been the law for a very long time. When New Years Eve falls on a Sunday then partying starts after midnight. What’s with the surprise? Those in the business should have enquired about this if they weren’t sure.

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  5. Caymanian party animals says:

    I don’t agree with this law but guess what we all know ow that you can’t agree live music on Sundays, these restaurant, bar owners know this, they could have addressed this issue months ago. Of course not, they believe they can now bully the liquor board and our politicians to amending the law last-minute.

    Get over it liquor license holders, you screwed up..

    Now time for my house party.

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  6. nauticalone says:

    Many people commenting here are missing the point. People are still allowed to drink all they want! The law allows the drinking!…Just also prohibits music and dancing…which really makes no sense!

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  7. Sucka Free Cayman says:

    BIG up the UNITY government not everyone is a drunken Fool like we thought. As for you drunken masters and rumheads from overseas please feel free to leave us sober and responsible people to enjoy Christmas without your input. We have enough of our own idiots to contend with and they don’t need your help nor we do not need any additional burden on our resources. Please once again feel free to make it permanent relief eh.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yeh, that’s right 7.49, let’s have them all leave and take all that filthy money they bring to the economy with them. So are you going to write my next social security check?

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    • Anonymous says:

      The law stops dancing and playing live music. Drinking is not affected. That is why most people find it such a rediculous law. Your comment and similar ones show no understanding of this reality, that you can still drink yourself half to death but are not allowed to dance.

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    • Anonymous says:

      You definitely have the market cornered on drunks and idiots.

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    • nauticalone says:

      The law prohibits music and dancing…not drinking!

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  8. Karl BG Perkins says:

    I applaud the PPM they finally at the end of the year showed some B@!!$ Locked dem down boyz too many fools out ya drinking and driving making it dangerous for others who would like to enjoy themselves too. As for you johnnies come lately you got 10 flights a day if you sober up long enough to realize you don’t like it here grab one and go somewhere where you can be drunk all day! We aint going to miss you either and if we see you again it will be too soon in fact. BIg UP da PPM you voted for them please embrace it happy holidays everyone and have sober start for the new year for once in your life.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yeh cos in history there has never ever been a drunk Caymanian who drove, right?

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      • Jah Wings says:

        Yes 1:17am we have many Caymanians who get arrested daily in these islands it would appear that is the only majority we now have in our own islands. Yet we have so many Simon Courtney,s driving around with impunity from the law i aint your Cos uncle Thomas!!

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  9. Anonymous says:

    Way not to be proactive CIG and busn. Did no one buy you a calendar for Christmas last year?

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  10. Anonymous says:

    230 young party goers arrested in Iran. Ring any New Year bells Cayman, you must be so proud to be aligned with the most repulsive Islamist regimes in the world.

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