New Year's parties cut short in Italy

ROME, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- A new curfew means New Year's revelers will have their party cut short this year in Rome unless a last-minute waiver is granted.

There is a 2 a.m. curfew in Italy this year on alcohol sales in restaurants, nightclubs and other places that offer entertainment, ANSA reported Friday.

The year-around ban on alcohol sales in the wee hours was enacted in October after a rash of alcohol-related deaths.

Aside from Italy, the only European country to impose a similar ban on alcohol sales is Norway, ANSA said.

The drinking curfew is opposed by local bars and nightclubs, including Rome's historic Piper and Gilda night clubs.

"This law only encourages people to try and get round it. The ban, in fact, only applies to alcohol sales in bars and night clubs which have liquor licenses and offer entertainment, while people continue to drink in private clubs," Piper and Gilda owner Giancarlo Bornigia told ANSA.

"Then there are bars, street vendors and supermarkets, which can sell alcohol whenever they want. If this ban continues we are going to have to close shop and fire people."