"Last Call "Extended in DC Nightspots For Inauguration

WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) -- The DC Council has approved emergency legislation that will allow restaurants, taverns and nightclubs to remain open 24 hours during the Inaugural celebration days-and serve alcohol until 5am instead of the usual 3am weekend cutoff time.

Mark Barnes, owner of "Love" and "The Park at 14th Street says while he'll make a lot more money with the extended liquor hours, the DC Government stands to take in multi millions in tax revenue.

Bill Duggans, owner of "Madam's Organ," a restaurant bar in Adams Morgan predicts a well behaved crowd, not anything like Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

The measure passed 9-4 but some council members expressed concerns. "People staying out till five o'clock in the morning drinking are getting drunk," says at-large Councilmember Phil Mendelson who voted against the legislation. He predicts there will be consequences for all the extra partying. "We will see an increase in robberies, an increase in assaults. We'll see an increase in DUI and DWI. There's no good that comes of that," he believes.

Mayor Fenty had asked the council to exclude nightclubs from the extended hours leading nightclub owners like Swaptak Das of the Shadowroom at 21st and K to say, "we're going to lose a great deal of revenue, potential revenue."

Police Chief Cathy Lanier through a spokesperson says she has no opinion on the extended liquor sales hours.