I work as a dispatcher in the US and in Superior (the city I work for), on New Years Eve, they let the bars stay open all night. They've noticed, over the years, that when they do this it works better for the police force because instead of there being a "bar rush" where you're dealing with all of the drunks trying to leave and fighting at the same time, you're dealing with a few at a time. So instead of having to hire, or have on, more police officers, you're keeping the ones you already have on busier, all night. Although the bars (in Douglas County) have lobbied several times to be able to stay open all night every night, and it's never passed. -Pete (http://pete.bensbane.net)