Licensing hours are to be relaxed when the British and Irish Lions visit Canberra to play the Brumbies on July 9. Under new laws, the ACT government has declared the day a "special event", which would "allow a licensee to supply liquor in open containers to drink at the premises past their usual licensing times". Apart from bars and restaurants being allowed to serve into the small hours, there'll be a special "fan zone" open from noon on the day at the Dock pub in Kingston. ACT Attorney-General Tara Cheyne said the city-wide event would be a "huge night and lots of tourists", and so a big boon for Canberra. "We just need to look at history. These are big games," she said. "This is a big team with a huge following that goes with them around the world. We're expecting at least 20,000 British and Irish Lions supporters to be in Australia, and hopefully a good chunk of those come to Canberra as well. "And we want to make sure that while they're here, they have the best time possible and the Dock's going to make that happen. "All venues across the city that serve alcohol on their premises will automatically have their liquor license extended until 2am." The fan zone will extend from the pub across the boardwalk in Kingston to accommodate 300 people, with special buses there. The special event declaration for the Lions was welcomed by the trade. "It's a great boost to our economy in the middle of winter," Peter Barclay, president of the ACT branch of the Australian Hotels Association (and managing director of King O'Malley's in Civic), said. "It brings so many fans from overseas - visitors to our city, and we can really showcase it. "They've got the opportunity to dine, to watch the game, to explore our beautiful city, the wineries, and have a really great time and take those memories back home and hopefully bring a lot more tourists over the next few years back to Australia and in particular to Canberra." He said that his pub would be open until 4am from "early in the day all the way through". He didn't think fans with drink in them would behave badly. "They are always well-behaved. You know why? Because they love the game and that's what they're here for." At the Dock, there would be fun but also fundraising, proprietor and former Wallaby and Brumby Ben Alexander said. "We're selling tickets. We'll have auction items. There'll be food. We'll be selling merch so it's going to be a fan zone/fundraiser for community rugby." Who's going to win the actual rugby? "I think we know who's gonna win," Peter Barclay said. So who's going to win? "Canberra is a political city so I'm quite diplomatic. I say we know who's going to win."