24-hour drinking set for overhaul
Wednesday, 1 December 2010 12:00 AM
Licensing laws face radical changes to combat binge drinking in town centres, under newly published government plans.
Theresa May will announce the changes as part of wider policing reforms this afternoon. Measures include greater fines for premises serving underage persons.
Late-night levies are also expected to be imposed on establishments remaining open late, in order to contribute to the policing costs of drunken disorder.
But industry figures said the plans would do nothing to combat binge drinking and would only drive more and more people to buying alcohol at below-cost prices from supermarkets.
Brigid Simonds of the Beer and Pub Association told the Today programme: "The reality is that 70% of alcohol is now sold in the off-trade [off-licences and supermarkets], so putting more legislation on the beleaguered British pub is frankly not the answer.
"What we're going to see today is an increase in costs, more fees, proposals to see paying for policing. You will find that more pubs will close as a result.
"We ought to be encouraging people to drink in pubs, because they are the homes of responsible retailing."
Labour's controversial legislation to allow 24-hour licence has been roundly criticised, as few premises applied or used the new freedom, with a minimal effect on the costs of heavy drinking to the British taxpayer - estimated at £13 billion annually.
Yesterday the Treasury announced a shift in alcohol duties to discourage people from buying high-strength beers. Ms Simonds wanted the government to push further, however, calling for a ban on all retailers selling below-cost alcohol.
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