Currently, clubs in the state must stop serving at 2AM.

Californian legislators have proposed changes to licensing laws that would allow municipalities to set their own alcohol service hours.

The Let Our Communities Adjust Late Night Act would give cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles the power to set their own cut off times for serving alcohol up to 4am.

At present, some bars and clubs can remain open until the early hours of the morning but all establishments must take last orders at 2am.

State senator Scott Wiener, who is behind the proposal, said the “one-size-fits-all” approach to licensing needs changing in a post on his Facebook page.

“Nightlife matters a lot, culturally and economically, and it’s time to allow local communities more flexibility,” he wrote.

The bill is backed by several industry groups as well as the California Music & Culture Association. Ben Bleiman, co-chair of the cultural organisation, said in a statement: “Nightlife is a major economic and cultural driver in California.”

A past attempt in 2013 to loosen California’s alcohol laws by Wiener’s predecessor Mark Leno was strongly opposed by advocacy groups including the San Francisco Police Officers Association and failed to get enough votes.

Several US cities, including Chicago, New York City and Miami Beach, allow late-night service. A 2am curfew has been in effect in California since 1935, according to John Carr, public information officer for the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.