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Take That, Rob Ford: Montreal Will Now Party Until 5:30AM

Another twist in the never-ending Toronto versus Montreal debate.

Photo courtesy of Montreal in Pictures

The City of Montreal just made a statement to the world: "We're ready." Last week, Montreal moved to cement its reputation as Canada's premier party city by allowing for a 5:30 AM last call in the coming summer months. This movement is by no means a citywide, alcohol fueled free-for-all until sunrise; instead, starting after Grand Prix weekend in June, a trial period will begin on two of Montreal's busiest streets, where 19 bars have been granted a license to serve liquor until 5:30 AM on weekend nights. While this may just end up as a host of young French kids dancing in the club not giving a fuck, it's important to note that many of the worldliest cities are already one step ahead of Montreal. In some ways, Montreal is setting itself apart—in others, it's catching up.

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While this move will inevitably only stoke the never-ending Toronto versus Montreal debate, it's too naïve to attribute this development to a petty popularity contest. For years Montreal has been more relaxed about alcohol (and partying in general) than the rest of Canada; the provinces' legal drinking age is 18, and you can even walk around the corner to the closest convenient store (dépanneur in French) for wine or beer. Most dépanneurs won't even ID you. Last call is already 3 AM, an hour later than the biggest city in Canada. Hey, some Quebec politicians drink on the job anyways, so fuck it right?

In its finest form, is a progressive social policy that, in light of Toronto's latest EDM ban on certain public grounds, and the last minute forced-move of event series Foundry, this makes Montreal look pretty damn good. A recent petition to extend last call surfaced in Toronto to no avail. While the laws don't yet apply to music venues, Montreal is allowing legal adults a greater degree of individualism. Some people work late, others simply enjoy afterhours partying, and some like to go on heavy benders all night long for days. Montreal appears to be flexible, while Toronto is strict in the regard of late night and early morning partying.

With the positive effects, we cannot overlook the economic benefits that could arise from a permanent decree of the 5:30 AM last call. For a country that spends 21.4 billion on alcohol a year, there have to be a few Montrealers getting drunk after 3 AM, right?

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Summer tourism is also expected to increase. Montreal is a short road trip away from several major cities, and is already known as a party haven. It's easy to find cheap hotels, and, again, you can legally party at 18—three important years that must seem eternal to an American party animal just trying to buy a legal beer.

But what does this change mean in light of Montreal's music culture? As of now, this summer trial period really only pertains to local bars and pubs. If super clubs like New City Gas had 2.5 extra hours to work with, and could allow DJs to play until 5:30 AM while serving liquor, the unit sales of alcoholic drinks over the course of a night would skyrocket. Really, the effects would be unparalleled once venues, and not just bars, could obtain a 5:30 AM license, and schedule their music programming accordingly. To keep people partying, and buying alcohol, clubs would book heavier lineups for their weekend nights; we'd see more label showcases, maybe more B2Bs, and an overall increase in international artist bookings, both in quantity and quality. Some DJs would likely indulge in the party themselves. The music scene in Montreal would truly explode, as high-profile DJs would be booked in droves to keep the party, and alcohol sales going all night long.

It wouldn't be too long until we begin to see the all-too-standard Ibiza shots of DJs still going strong as the sun comes up right here in Montreal. Packed dance floors with wide-eyed ravers having this religious experience is not too far away. The only places to party until sunrise, and check out those epic marathon sets right now are across the street from one another; the temple that is Stereo, and the circus that is Circus Nightclub. Stereo boasts the best techno and deep house bookings in Canada, and is a famous rabbit hole where DJs will play until the early afternoon. You never know what you'll find in the many rooms of Circus, which tends to close its doors around lunchtime. These strictly afterhours clubs have such a legendary allure as it is, especially in the world of techno, that this law will have a minimal effect on their stellar international reputation and already untouchable booking schedules. Oh, and did I mention that they don't ever serve alcohol as it is? Just energy drinks and water, to keep you going all night long.

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Several bar owners in Montreal are furious (read as: jealous) that they weren't included in the list of the lucky 19. Summer is the more prosperous season in Montreal, as winter barhopping in what seems like minus 200 degrees Celsius is impossible. The bar owners are more than onboard for the change—they just want to be included in all of the fun.

For once, it was Montreal's mayor who made headlines, instead of the crack-smoking, cocaine-snorting, binge-drinking Rob Ford. Dennis Coderre took a jab at Toronto by explaining that "there is a nightlife in Montreal. The only reason there is a nightlife in Toronto is because half a million Montrealers move there." Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong, the chair of Toronto's public works committee, and likely someone who hasn't ever partied all too much, commented that "if people want to get plastered at 5:30 in the morning, they're welcome to go to Montreal to do it." Coderre's response? Silence. Coderre's implications? Bring them—build it, and they will come. Hopefully we will see Coderre out there at 5:30 AM, enjoying an iced cold cruiser with the people of his city.

At the end of the day, what's the worst thing that could happen, other than the populace of Montreal devolving into a horde of alcohol nocturnal vampires? There will be an increased police presence around the 19 pilot bars, and police will take note of whether there are more or fewer incidents. Destination Centre-Ville will collect data on how many people take advantage of the longer hours, and how profitable it is for the bars. There is likely to be a surge in viral videos of drunk French people wandering the empty streets of Montreal at sunrise. With all of this said, does this project make Montreal a better party city than Toronto? No, not in the slightest. Toronto has some of the best parties in the world; Electric Island, Sensation, Foundry, Digital Dreams, and the list goes on.

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As long as the measured social and economic consequences aren't inherently negative, Montreal should continue to increase the scope of the experiment until it involves the whole downtown core. In our ever-growing culture of electronic music and its many genres, this experiment has the potential to put Montreal on the map if promoters can harness it properly. Small club or super club, reinvesting those extra alcohol profits into strong production and diverse bookings, will benefit our electronic music scene greatly. So again, what's the worst thing that could happen? Well, Rob Ford has a lot more time on his hands now that he's out of office. Once he busts out of rehab, it looks like he now has a reason to move to Montreal…

You can follow Zack on Twitter: @zackrota

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