Adding just one or two hours to late-night opening times for bars and clubs in two of Amsterdam’s nightlife areas led to a persistent 34% increase in alcohol-related injuries, a trend reflected in both the numbers of accidental injuries and those due to violence.

Key points from summary and commentary
• Venue closing times were extended in two nightlife areas of Amsterdam in a bid to enhance the appeal to tourists and visitors.
• This had a substantial impact on the number of alcohol-related injuries attended to by paramedics, with a 34% increase observed after the policy had been implemented.
• This finding emphasises the need for public health to be a key consideration of nightlife and alcohol policy