DAVID HARDEN/Arizona Daily Wildcat Industrial engineering senior Matt Edwards finishes a game of pool last night at Trident Bar on Speedway Boulevard. Bars had their last call at 2 this morning instead of the usual 1 a.m. after a new state law allowing the bars to sell alcohol later took effect.

Champagne was flowing and extra rounds of drinks were ordered this morning as a new last call took effect in bars across the state.

A bill that passed in April, pushed back last call in Arizona from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m., giving patrons an extra hour to purchase liquor.

Local bars predict heavy crowds throughout the weekend and some have planned special events to celebrate the new law.

"We'll stay out until they kick us out," said Thad Chapman, an aerospace engineering junior.

Kiki Kirchoffner, general manager of Maloney's Tavern, 213 N. Fourth Ave., said it will throw a beach party, complete with sand and surfboards, which will run through Sunday.

"We expect a lot of people ... we're getting ready, getting geared up for the 2 a.m. last call," Kirchoffner said yesterday.

Joel Kalpinski, a bartender at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St., said his bar had a 1 a.m. champagne toast and musical guests to commemorate the occasion.

"The general feeling is that in a way it's a raise: You work an extra hour, you get all that extra money," said Kalpinski, a student at Pima Community College. "I'm happy about it."

Sponsored by Rep. Michele Regan, R-Scottsdale, the last call bill had strong support from lobbyists of the liquor and tourism industries, which claimed a later last call would result in more business.

Bill Weigele, president of the Arizona Licensed Beverage Association, estimated in April that a later last call would generate $55 million this year.

Before the bill passed, Arizona had one of the earliest last calls in the nation, at 1 a.m. Managers of local bars expected UA students to take full advantage of the extra hour of drinking.

"We anticipate a really large crowd based on sorority rush ending and students being back in town ... maybe one of the biggest nights ever," said Ben Lefebyre, manager of Dirtbag's, located at 1800 E. Speedway Blvd.

Although last call can now be as late as 2 a.m. as a state standard, each bar can set its own last call and closing time. Maloney's and IBT's plan to close around 2:15 a.m. while Dirtbag's intends to close at 2 a.m., with a last call around 1:40 a.m.

Lefebyre said that while he expects revenue to increase in the beginning, people might start going out later at night and business could potentially level off.

Regardless of estimates and projections, UA students said they are happy with the later last call time.

"I feel Wednesday is kind of like a holiday," said Jason Yusypchuk, a communication senior, who planned to celebrate with friends.

Eric Moore, a 2004 business graduate, said that the 2 a.m. last call worked out well for test markets in Phoenix, and he expects the same in Tucson.

Critics of the bill were concerned the later; last call could increase D.U.I.s, but bar owners said they don't think it will be a problem.

"Everything will just be done an hour later, that's it," said Krichoffner.

Through the weekend, Lefebyre said Dirtbag's will have more staff on hand in case young drinkers "can't handle their liquor," but Krichoffner said Maloney's is sticking with its standard 30 doormen.

Brandon Jacobson, security manager at IBT's, located at 616 N. Fourth Ave., said although he expects larger crowds, he also doesn't anticipate increased altercations.

"It's good news. It's more money for everybody else, more money for the bar, and definitely beneficial," said Jacobson.