Last call stays at 11 p. m. in Denver

Bars in Denver still can’t serve alcohol past 11 p. m. — at least for now, Gov. Jared Polis ordered Saturday.

Polis extended the statewide “Safer- at- Home” order Saturday and set up a sliding last call for bars across the state, which will be required to stop serving alcohol at 10 p. m., 11 p. m., midnight or 2 a. m. depending on the severity of the novel coronavirus in each county.

The time for last call will be dependent on each county’s COVID- 19 designation from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Counties that have the most favorable conditions — which now includes only Moffat, Rio Blanco, Mesa and Gunnison counties — aren’t restricted and can serve alcohol as late as the normal 2 a. m. last call, according to the order.

The 25 counties with “Level 1” concern for COVID- 19 will have a last call at midnight, while “Level 2” counties — including Denver, Jefferson, Boulder and Broomfield counties — must stop serving alcohol at 11 p. m.

There are currently no counties designated as a “Level 3” threat, but a county with that designation would have last call at 10 p. m., according to the order. County levels can be seen on the CDPHE website.

Polis in July set last call for all bars in the state at 10 p. m., arguing that patrons were getting drunk and becoming less careful about taking precautions against the novel coronavirus as the night got later. That cutoff was extended to 11 p. m. in August, and Polis said at the time he hoped to extend last call to midnight by the end of September.

Bar owners have told the Denver Post that the hours between 10 p. m. and midnight are critical to business, and they’d hoped for at least a midnight last call.