TNN
 
Bangalore, May 20: Bangaloreans have reason to smile. The harsh “Cinderella law” which constrained its nightlife has been relaxed a bit, at least as far as  dining and movie-going is concerned. Now, they can eat out till midnight and watch the last-show cinema.

Guzzlers and those who love to shake a leg, shall have to wait, though. Restaurants, bars and pubs with liquor licence will have to stop serving liquor at 11 pm as earlier though they can serve food till 12 am.

The government decided to restore some of the city’s nocturnal vibrations on Tuesday with home minister V S Acharya announcing that eateries in Bangalore will be allowed to remain open till midnight, one hour later than the current deadline.

The new order came into force from Tuesday midnight. Restaurants and eateries at the airport, railway station and bus stand will be open 24/7.

The government took this decision after approving the new timings of film shows in Bangalore, according to which the last show ends by 11 pm.

Acharya said the extension of timings for eateries will help last-show filmgoers. Besides helping those working late, the change in timings is sure to give a fillip to the hotel industry.

Though Bangaloreans are happy with this positive move, they want bars and discotheques too to be kept open beyond midnight. But the authorities insist on a closure by 11.30 pm citing rulebook.

Serving liquor and dancing are governed by the licensing and controlling of places of public entertainment (Bangalore City) order, 2005 and the Karnataka Excise Act of 1965.

The Act prevents places serving alcohol from staying open beyond 11.30 pm and women from dancing in places where alcohol is sold.

Though successive governments indicated a move to modify the laws to reduce restrictions on nightlife, no legislative action has been taken yet.