Bars and restaurants will be allowed to stay open into the early hours of New Year’s Day after a ruling from the Liquor Licensing Board.

Last week, lawmakers cleared the way for the extended partying when Premier McKeeva Bush put an amendment before the Legislative Assembly.

And now all bars, restaurants and hotels will be allowed to sell alcohol until 1:30am on January 1st and play music until 2am.

Nightclubs can sell liquor until 2:45am but music and dancing must stop 15 minutes later at 3am.

Several bars and drinking establishments contacted the Ministry of Tourism concerned about closing at midnight on the Saturday – which marks the start of 2012.

In the past, bars have also closed earlier on a Saturday to avoid selling alcohol on a Sunday.

But with the New Year celebrations falling on a Saturday this year, the licensees asked for special dispensation to stay open later.

Instead of each bar applying individually, the Board granted blanket extensions to everyone.

Yesterday a Government spokesman said: The Liquor Licensing Board of Grand Cayman has met and approved extended opening hours on New Year’s Eve for the following.

“Bars, restaurants and hotels are permitted to sell liquor until 1:30 am and play music until 2:00 am, the morning of January 1st 2012; and “Nightclubs are permitted to sell liquor until 2:45 am. Music and dancing must end at 3:00 am.

“License holders are reminded that license stipulations will still be in effect. Liquor sales must cease during the last ten minutes of the permitted opening hours and all patrons must vacate the premises before closing.”