An afterhours club (aka after hours club and afterhour club) is a nightclub that is open past the designated curfew closing time for clubs that serve alcohol (which is often an hour long).[citation needed] Such clubs may cease serving alcohol at the designated time, but have special permission to remain open to customers and to sell non-alcoholic sodas and often highly caffeinated drinks.
In Western Europe—specifically in Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom—24-hour "music and dance" licences, which do not necessarily have alcohol restrictions, are granted.[citation needed]
In North America, afterhours clubs are typically small venues for professional musicians and entertainers to perform after their main gigs and patrons seeking entertainment after their evening's main event.[1]