KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 3

The government has set a new timeline for operation of night time business, allowing clubs and discothèques to operate until 4:00am.

A joint-meeting of District Security Committee and Chief District Officer decided to review the old rule and bring in the new timeline to manage night time businesses. Nepal Police personnel will be implementing the new rule.

As per the new rule, shops selling alcoholic beverages are allowed to open until 10:00pm and restaurants until mid-night. Similarly, entertainment business such as dance bars, dohori restaurants and lounge and bars are allowed to operate until 2:00am. Clubs and discothèques are allowed to operate until 4:00am.

Superintendent of Police Dinesh Raj Mainali, spokesperson for Metropolitan Police Range Kathmandu, said the rules had been put in place for a long time, but the authorities introduced it in written form this time around.

'We hope this will help manage night life inside Kathmandu valley efficiently as such places can often be a crime hub if proper security is not arranged,' Mainali said.

Earlier, in March, authorities had for the first time lifted all kinds of time restrictions and allowed operation of clubs and bars for 24 hours to encourage the inflow of tourists in the country.

The country had seen steep decline in tourist inflow due to COVID 19 during that period.

The rule has also obliged minors not to enter such places. Likewise, workers and performances in dance and dohori restaurants should be recorded for security purposes.

A version of this article appears in the print on December 4, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.