Telangana extends bar timings for FIFA World Cup final weekend

The Telangana government has extended the operating hours of bars, clubs and microbreweries in the Hyderabad urban region for the FIFA World Cup third-place play-off and final. However, bar owners have sought clear communication of the order to local police.

Hyderabad: Football fans here have another reason to cheer this weekend, with the State government extending the business hours of bars, clubs and microbreweries as the FIFA World Cup fever reaches its peak.

The Prohibition and Excise Department has extended business hours up to 4.30 am on the intervening night of July 18 and 19. Similarly, operating hours have been extended up to 3 am on the intervening night of July 19 and 20.

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These timings will be applicable to 2B (bars), C1-Club (in-house), TD1 and TD2 (in-house) outlets of the Tourism Development Corporation and microbreweries located within the Telangana Core Urban Region. The government took the decision in connection with the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place play-off on July 18 and the final scheduled for July 19.

In an order, Prohibition and Excise Department Commissioner C Hari Kiran instructed the department’s Deputy Commissioners of Greater Hyderabad, Malakajgiri and Cyberabad, and the District Prohibition and Excise Officers of Hyderabad, Secunderabad, LB Nagar, Malkajgiri, Qutubullapur and Serilingampally to take necessary action in the matter.

However, the Telangana Bar and Restaurant Owners Association expressed apprehensions about the extended timings, stating that the order alone was not sufficient. It wanted the order to be communicated to the local police stations for implementation.

Recalling a similar order issued by the Excise Department in the past, the association said it was not implemented by the police, leading to confusion among bar owners.