A change in bar closing time with 1 hour leads to a 17% decrease in violence
The Norwegian Institute for Alcohol and Drug Research presents findings and conclusions from research on the relation between bar closing hours and violence.
A research from 18 cities in Norway suggests that bar closing time impacts violence. There is a statistically significant increase of 5.0 assaults per 100 000 inhabitants per quarter, which is a 17% increase, if bar opening times is extended with 1 hour. The effect is symmetrical, and would therefore suggest similar impact on earlier closing times, a 17% decrease in violence.
“This is a clear signal to the government of the need to reduce the bar opening hours in Norway”, says Anne-Karin Kolstad, secretary general in Actis – Norwegian Policy Network on Alcohol and Drug, and calls for change in the legislation.