New Year’s Eve might not be so rockin’ this year.
A 60 percent plunge in the number of Big Apple bars, clubs and restaurants that have been issued special permits for late-night partying means the city that never sleeps could be in for a relatively quiet New Year’s.
Night permits — which let drinking establishments push back last call four hours, until 8 a.m. — were issued to just 165 bars in the city, Long Island and Westchester for New Year’s Eve, the State Liquor Authority said.
That’s down from 388 last year and 439 in 2007.
“That is obviously a significant drop,” said New York Nightlife Association counsel Robert Bookman — adding that the permits are “absolutely necessary” for any business looking to compete on New Year’s Eve.
“Some of it has to do with the economy,” he said. “People aren’t booking private parties, for example . . . It could be that some bar and club owners don’t think it’s worth it to stay open. Times are definitely tough.”
But, he said, there could be another factor — an SLA deadline, set last year, that requires that night-permit applications be filed 45 days before Dec. 31. This year’s were due Nov. 17.
“I don’t think most business owners focus on New Year’s Eve until after Thanksgiving, so the deadline is too early,” Bookman said.
Only 39 businesses filed in time last year, so the SLA agreed to extend the deadline.
This year, it advertised the new deadlines on its Web site, and the New York Nightlife Association sent businesses a reminder in early November.