Permitted Philadelphia bars, restaurants, breweries and other establishments will be able to serve customers until 4 a.m. for more than five weeks this summer, at the height of activity surrounding the FIFA World Cup and nation’s 250th birthday.
Gov. Josh Shapiro signed legislation Friday allowing the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to issue two-hour extensions to alcohol-serving businesses to use from June 11 to July 20. The measure received bipartisan support in Harrisburg.
The time period aligns with the dates of the soccer tournament, which will be hosted in 16 cities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Six World Cup matches are set to be held at Lincoln Financial Field.
“We’re ready to welcome tourists and fans from across the world this summer – and extending hours for the World Cup and America250 means more business for our bars, more pay for our workers, and more opportunity to come together and celebrate,” Shapiro wrote Sunday on X.
In an earlier video posted to social media, the governor was shown signing the bill and cracking open a can of Brotherly Love Hazy IPA, produced by locally-based Victory Brewing Company.
Parker echoed Shapiro’s sentiments Friday during a City Hall news conference providing updates on initiatives related to the 250th, also referred to as the Semiquicentennial.
“It will actually translate into more hours,” she added. “It will mean more shifts for workers, more revenue for small businesses and more economic activity across neighborhoods in our city.”
To apply for the extension, dubbed the “Philadelphia 250 permit,” a business must have an existing liquor license and be in good standing with state regulators. The bill states that the permit will cost $500 and that any application can be rejected by the municipal government.
“This is an important step forward for our city and our commonwealth,” acting city Commerce Director Karen Fegely said. “It’s a strategic move that ensures Philadelphia is competitive with other destinations while meeting the expectations of a global audience.”
Participating bars and restaurants must also enroll in the commerce department’s Liberty Bell Safe Certification Program, a one-day class for owners and managers. The course incorporates education about drink-spiking, crowd management and other topics, officials said.
Even businesses already certified through the program must complete additional training on “late-night risk management,” according to information on the city’s website.
Applications for the course are expected to be available soon. Interested parties can check phila.gov/libertybellsafe for updates.
