Ask the Bartender: Each week we answer the questions you were too shy or drunk to ask… This one comes from Kyle:If bars are open until 2 a.m., why do they give last call so early? I feel like most places in town start closing at 1:30. They’d definitely get one last drink out of me if they let me drink until the last minute. It just seems like bad business.Answer: This has always bothered me about Seattle, and I know in many other cities you can get a drink until 1:59 a.m. and take a reasonable amount of time drinking it while the bar closes around you.However, the law in Seattle requires all alcohol to be pulled and bar to be closed by 2 a.m. sharp. Many bars overcompensate for this rule by starting last call early, based on how long it would take to serve everyone in the entire bar another drink and for those people to drink it. All before 2 a.m.It’s completely ridiculous, but it’s the law, like myriad other prudish details of our state’s liquor laws. Technically a bartender could get busted for having an after work drink, a god-given ritual of the profession.If you like going out late, sit at the bar. You’re likely to be able to get the very last cocktail, and keep it, until 1:59 a.m. If you’ve been cool to the bartender.Got a question for the bartender? Email

mdutton@seattleweekly.com.