by Sarah Scire

The D.C. Council has passed emergency legislation to extend the hours of all bars and nightclubs to help accommodate the four million people estimated to be in town for President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration.

From Jan. 17 until Jan. 20, every D.C. restaurant, bar and nightclub with a liquor license can stay open 24 hours a day and serve alcohol until 5 a.m, according to the legislation passed on Tuesday. Usually, establishments can serve alcohol until 2 a.m. on weekdays and 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.

The idea was originally devised by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington and was introduced by council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), who “represents the nightlife-heavy neighborhoods of Adams Morgan and Mount Pleasant,” according to the Washington Post.