It was two in the morning and the music in Clarke Quay was still deafening. O’Connor stands infront of theOfftrackBarhe runs, looking at the steady stream of customers in a nightclub not far away, but inwardly hesitant. As a bar owner, he both welcomes and worries about the authority’s pilot program to extend the selling hours of alcohol, as it hides deep changes in the nightlife industry.
Just after 12 o’clock in the late night,Octapasnightclubin Clarke Quayis still bustling with customers, as supervisor Angie is checking orders. She observes that since the extended opening hours,customers are still coming in even after midnight.
In stark contrast, not far away along the barge pier,Ekin, the manager ofthe restaurant barRiverside Buns, was calculating his income for the day. Although ZF allows for extended hours of alcohol sales, Aikin has not considered this option at all.
“The barge terminal is already low-traffic, andthere is no real benefit to extending the hours of operation; it will only increase employee hours.“
Schematic diagram, source: “Goonies 3 Only Hands to Cover” stills, deletion
I. Pilot program launch:
Nightclubs extend alcohol sales to4 a.m.
Singapore’s nightlife venues see policy relief.2025OnAugust 18,the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Trade and Industry (MITI) and Ministry of National Development (MND) jointly announced the launch of a one-year pilot program aimed at reinvigorating the nightlife venues along the Singapore River.
The policy comprises two core elements:allowing operators to open new bars and nightclubs along the Barge Pier; and allowing operators along the Barge Pier, Clarke Quay and Sha Kau Lau Road to apply for extended hours of selling alcoholic beverages on Thursdays and Fridays until4 a.m. the following day.
This policy adjustment is not out of the blue. More than a year ago, some operators had already been granted permission to extend the hours of alcohol sales by an hour.O’Connor, proprietor of theOfftrackBaron North Canna Road, was one of those who had earlier applied to extend the bar’s hours to1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
“It’s always nice tobe able todo a little more business.“So says O’Connor, although he is currently weighing whether to apply for a new extended time slot.
The relaxation of the policy has quickly attracted the attention of the industry. As ofAugust2025, the Singapore Police Force has received and approved applications from six operators for the extension.InSeptember2025, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) received20applications to open lounges, restaurants and nightclubs in the Barge Quay Historic District.
Photo/Minister Shanmugam, MinisterChen Shenghui, Source: Lianhe Zaobao, Erratum
II. Extended business landing:
Clarke Quay picks up, barge terminal on hold
A few months after the implementation of the policy, the market’s response shows clear geographical differences. Clarke Quay’s nightlife seems to have a silver lining, withAngie, the head ofOctapasnightclub, confirming that alcohol sales have indeed risen after the extended opening. Although it is difficult to quantify the increase precisely, the store’s move to deploy more staff over the Christmas period is a good enough indication of improved business.
Katil, manager ofKopi & Spells, also in Clarke Quay, shared a similar observation,“With the extended selling hours, even after1 a.m. or2a.m.,there are still customers switching from other places to comefor a drink and a chat.“
However, the barge pier just a few hundred meters away was a different story. It is dominated by food bars and lounges, and is significantly less crowded than Clarke Quay. Most businesses believe that extending the hours of alcohol sales will not only not bring economic benefits, but may also add to the operational burden.
Alan, manager ofPenny Black,the Irish lounge at Barge Quay,puts the core problem bluntly,“The companydoes notcurrentlyhave a quota of expatriate staffto hire enough people. Until ZF addresses the issue of expatriate hiring, this will be difficult to implement.“
Allen further explained that most of the company’s non-front office positions are filled by locals, while frontline positions such as waiters rely heavily on expatriate staff.“Our staff also have to travel to and from Johor Bahru early in the morning and late at night every day, so it’s impossible to ask them to extend their working hours.“
Schematic diagram, source: United Daily News
III. Cost-benefit game:
Extend it by an hour and make an extra $500?
Most of the operators are making careful calculations on whether to apply for an extension of their opening hours.Tse Man Yiu, whoruns the nightclubLevel Upin Clarke Quay, said the management has not yet decided whether it needs to extend its opening hours.
“Generally speaking, guests willgradually disperseafter the live music performances, i.e.between 1 a.m. and2a.m., and there are not many customers by the time they close.“Xie Wenyao admits that extending the business may mean additional costs for labor, utilities, etc., but may not bring in corresponding revenue.
Kumar, manager of theCrazy Monkeysbaron Shah Kaurao Road, offers another perspective. He observed that many patrons were still reluctant to leave at closing time, sometimes as many as 40 or 50.
“If I can stay open an extra hour, I believeI can make an extra $400 or $500 a night.“But Kumar is also concerned that staying open longer will lead to increased costs, including higher labor costs and higher rents that landlords may demand.
In this regard, China Galaxy Securities Singapore economic consultant Song Shengwen analyzed that the local nightlife is difficult to return to the pre-epidemic level, which is closely related to the change of consumer habits.
Song Shengwen noted,“More people tend to gather at home for meals or patronize neighborhood businesses nearby.“He believes that by allowing the authorities to extend the hours of alcohol availability, it does provide an advantage for operators to attract customers,“but it’s not really a solution, but rather some more options. At the end of the day, it’s up to the individual business owners themselves to consider.“
Schematic diagram, source: United Daily News
IV. Lifestyle evolution:
Daytime parties on the rise, late-night clubbing on the wane
In fact, Singaporeans’ nightlife patterns are undergoing a quiet transformation. Public relations director Krisha used to be a regular at Clarke Quay and Barge Quay, but since the outbreak, she has noticed that many familiar nightlife venues have disappeared and the overall vibe is not what it used to be.
“This Christmas, I’m going to have a house party and stop going out for drinks to celebrate.“Krisha said.
This trend is further reflected in the rise of daytime parties. These parties usually start in the afternoon or early evening andendataround10p.m., with theidea that it ishealthier not to stay up all night, and to avoid the high cost of transportation late at night.
Krysia observes,“With the consumption pattern of drinking earlier at daytime parties becoming increasingly popular, the focus of nightlife shouldn’t be on extending the early morning hours of alcohol sales.“
At the same time, consumers’ demands for nighttime venues are quietly changing.33-year-old financial analyst Yenhas been patronizing Clarke Quay’s nightclubs since she was in her20s, but in the wake of the outbreak, she has noticed a marked change in the habits of consumers her age.
“Now I value my normal routine and sleep more and basically just go to live music bars.“She believes that some of the lounges in Clarke Quay have become boring and the crowd lacks atmosphere,“The nightclubs in Sands arenowthe preferred choice.“
Schematic diagram, source: United Daily News
V. Deep bottlenecks to be resolved:
Labor Shortage and Transportation Costs as Roadblocks
In addition to changing consumer habits, nighttime venues face deeper structural challenges. Transportation issues bear the brunt. Although CapitaLandlaunched a free late-night shuttle bus service onDec.5, the effectiveness of this measure remains to be seen.
Krysia then bluntly stated that for millennials and older,“they probably wouldn’t want to take a feeder bus home.“
For his part, nightclub regular Sain welcomed the extension of liquor-selling hours at nightclubs along Clarke Quay, saying it would enrich the local nightlife experience. He looks forward to experiencing more types of entertainment in the future as the authorities place more emphasis on the development of nightlife.
In the long run, the future of Singapore’s nightlife industry remains uncertain. According to Song Shengwen of Galaxy Securities, the authorities are likely toplace more emphasis on law and order than on business receiptswhen assessing the success of the pilot program.
Song Shengwen noted,“While it is too early to make a judgment, if the industry can work together to ensure that the law and order situation doesn’t get worse, I don’t think that the authorities will tighten the policy any further, and perhaps instead consider loosening some of the controls in more areas.“
Schematic diagram, source: United Daily News
VI. Compliance Cornerstone:
Nightclub‘dual license‘application requirements and process details
Clarifying the statutory licenses is the first step in the business for any nightlife operator who wants to enter or adapt to the new policy.
In Singapore, the opening of night-time establishments (e.g. bars, nightclubs) is strictly regulated and must satisfythe requirements ofa Town Planning Permit,Liquor Licenseand Public EntertainmentLicenseatthesame time. These three applications are independent of each other and need to be submitted to different agencies.
1. “Dual licenses“explained: liquor licenses and public entertainment licenses
For any nightlife business owner who wants to enter or adapt to the new policy, clarifying the statutory licenses is the first step in doing business.In Singapore, the opening of nightlife establishments such as bars and nightclubs is strictly regulated and must satisfythe requirements ofa Town Planning Permit,Liquor Licenseand Public EntertainmentLicenseatthesame time.These three applications are independent of each other and need to be submitted to different agencies.
A Liquor License and a Public Entertainment License are both required to operate a nightclub.They aregovernedby the Singapore Police Force (SPF) under different laws and approval of one does not automatically mean approval of the other.
First,the legal basis forthe liquor licenseis the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act. The core regulatory element of the license is that it allows premises to legallyserveanybeverage withan ethanol content of more than0.5%.
Please note that“supply” isdefined in the Actto mean not only the sale, but also the bartering, exchange, or offering or delivering of liquor for sale. Supplying liquor without a valid license is a serious offence and is punishableby a fineof up toS$20,000upon conviction.Applications for liquor licenses are uniformlysubmitted onlinethrough ZF’sGoBusinesswebsite.
Secondly,public entertainment licensesare governed by the Public Entertainment Act and its subsidiary regulations. The license is for thepublic entertainmentprovided by the establishment, not the goods themselves. For establishments such as nightclubs and discotheques, playing recorded music, arranging live bands, and allowing patrons to dance are all regulated entertainment activities that require this license. The application platform for this license isthe official website ofthe Singapore Police Force (SPF).
2. Core elements of an application for a public entertainment license
According to the statute, the following key requirements need to be met in order to apply for a Public Entertainment License:
Eligibility of applicant: Must be a specific individual tied to the company or trade name being applied for. For example, in the case of a limited company, the applicant must be a director, chief executive officer or managing director of the company.
Qualification of the premises: The premises must first obtaina planning permission fromthe Urban Renewal Authority (URA) to certify that the nature of the site allows night-time entertainment activities.
Critical process,extension of operating hours: This is precisely the aspect of the current pilot program that requires the most attention from operators. Under the Public Entertainment Rules,licensees must obtain prior approval from the licensing officer to extend the hours of operation specified in the license and pay a fee calculated according to a specific formula.
This means that even if a liquor license permits the sale of alcohol until4:00a.m., the establishment can likewise not legally operate if an extension of the hours of operation of the public entertainment license has not been granted.
3. Application process and fees for nightclub licenses
Process:E-applications are submittedmainly throughthe online portal designated bythe SPF. Processing time varies depending on the complexity of the case.
Fees: License fees are based on the type and size of the entertainment activity (e.g., capacity of the premises). The fee for approval of extended hours of operation is calculated according to a formula roughly equivalent to the difference between the annual fees for the old and new licenses, discounted in proportion to the remaining validity period of the license.
Expiration and Renewal: Public Recreation Licenses usually have a fixed expiration date (e.g., up to24months) and need to be renewed prior to expiration.
Important note under the new policy: For operators wishing to take advantage of the pilot program to stay open until4:00 a.m.on Thursdays and Fridays,in addition to applying for a change in the conditions of their liquor licenses, it is important that they alsoapply forapproval of the“extended hours” ofthe Public Entertainment Licensefromthe SPF. This is a prerequisite for legal compliance.
Schematic diagram, source: United Daily News
VII. Guidelines for Liquor License Applications
It is crucial for businesses interested in entering the nightlife industry in Singapore to understand the application process for liquor licenses and public entertainment licenses. According to the Singapore Police Force (SPF), any company, business or association intending to serve alcoholic beverages (meaningbeverageswith an ethanol content of more than0.5%) must apply for a liquor license unless exempted.
The consequences of supplying alcohol in violation of the law are severe:upon conviction, first-time offenders can befinedup toS$20,000; repeat offenders may facea fine ofup toS$20,000 or imprisonment for up to three months, or both.
1.Core application requirements
Eligibility of applicants: Applicants must meetthe criteria of“fit and proper“under the law.
Premises qualification: the location of the premises must be suitable for serving alcohol.
Photo/Singapore Alcohol Sales Control Area, Source: SPF
2.Application Process and Required Documents
All applications aresubmitted onlinethrough the official ZFportal at GoBusiness.
Types of applications: These include new applications, renewals, modifications, cancellations or withdrawals. Renewals need to bemade within2 monthsprior to license expiration.
KEY MATERIALS: The following documents are required prior to application:
Certificate of business registration issued bythe Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA).
ID card (for Singaporeans) or Foreigner Identification Number (FIN) ofthe contact person of the applicant company.
Approval documents from the relevant land administration agencies (e.g.HDBapproval for HDB flats, orplanning permission fromthe Urban Renewal Authority (URA)).
3.Processing time:
Approvalusually takesapproximately3weeksafter receipt of a complete application package.
4.Important Notes
Penalties for selling alcohol without a license: It is an offence to supply alcohol without a valid liquor license and is punishableby a fineof up toS$20,000for a first offence; repeat offenders may facea fine ofup toS$20,000 orimprisonment forup tothreemonths, or both.
Licenses are not generalizable: a liquor license is only for activities that serve alcohol. If the establishment also provides entertainment such as live music and dancing,a separatepublic entertainment licensemust beapplied for.
Special Area Restrictions: In the twoLiquor Control Zonesof Geylang and Little India, thehours of sale of alcohol in licensed premises are more strictly limited (e.g.7a.m.to7 p.m. only on weekends and the eve of public holidays).
For more information on restrictions or to obtain assistance with your application, you can contact the Police License Regulatory Unit. You can also contact our account managers for license application solutions.
Photo/Singapore Alcohol Sales Control Hours, Source: SPF
[Conclusion]
Policing over profitability: Pilot evaluation may determine future direction of policy
It was four o’clock late at night when the lights went out at the last nightclub in Clarke Quay. Thane stepped out to find the CapitaLand shuttle bus just pulling away from the platform, with a half-hour wait for the next one. He opened his phone app and frowned when he saw that the fare was three times higher than during the day.
Not far away, the barge terminal has fallen silent, andAlan, the manager of thePenny BlackLounge, locks the door and walks to the parking lot, wondering how he’s going to explain to headquarters why he didn’t apply for an extension. Most of his staff have already boarded the cross-border bus to Johor Bahru.
Under the same night sky, O’Connor’sOfftrackBar had just finished a small concert, and he was sending off the last few customers. Looking at his cell phone, he looks at the request for an extension that he just submitted, and he’s both anticipating and uneasy.
The night on the Singapore River continues to find a new flow between the ripples of policy and the reefs of reality. The extension of liquor-selling hours is an open window, but whether it will be clear or stormy depends on patronage, costs, manpower, and the ability of the industry to accurately navigate through the complexity of licensing regulations.
The recovery of nightlife is never a simple question that can be answered by a single policy, but rather a multifaceted equation that needs to be worked out by the industry, consumers and ZF.
*References from:SPFSingapore,ACRA, Gobusiness, Lianhe Zaobao, comprehensive news reports collated, reproduced with attribution, infringement and deletion of contact.
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