Atlanta extends bar hours for Pride Sunday

The City of Atlanta will extend bar hours on Sunday, Oct. 10, allowing celebrations to go late on the last night of Pride Weekend.

Rather than the usual 12:00 a.m. end to alcohol sales on Sunday nights, bars and restaurants on Sunday, Oct. 10 can serve patrons alcohol until 2:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 11.

On Aug. 2, Atlanta City Council adopted the ordinance to modify drinking hours within city limits. Atlanta Pride Committee shepherded the legislation through the office of Councilmember Carla Smith.

But that was before APC canceled its in-person events, so we checked in with the mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs to make sure.

The ordinance stands, according to City of Atlanta Press Secretary Michael Smith who confirmed with City officials at Project Q’s request on Tuesday. The language of the ordinance makes drinking hours clear.

The Code of Ordinances of the City of Atlanta, Georgia are hereby waived in part in this instance only, for the sole purpose of allowing all establishments licensed to engage in the sale of alcoholic beverages for which they are appropriately licensed for on premises consumption, to engage in the sale of alcoholic beverages between the hours of 12:01 a.m., Monday, October 11, 2021 and 2:30 a.m., Monday, October 11, 2021.

Extended bar hours are an annual rite of passage in many years past. It follows City practice on other special-occasion Sundays including New Year’s Eve, St. Patrick’s Day, and Memorial Weekend.

Events celebrating  Pride weekend in Atlanta takes place Oct. 6-10.