Lib Dems urge licensing review
The Liberal Democrats have called for urgent action to enforce existing alcohol licensing laws before introducing 24-hour drinking.
Official figures obtained during a parliamentary question reveal that an average of just 11 licensees a year were prosecuted for serving drunks or allowing drunken behaviour on their premises since 1997.
Only 12 people in total have been prosecuted for buying alcohol for friends who are too drunk to do so themselves since 1997 – figures the Lib Dems say show the government is not serious about enforcing licensing rules.
With news that 900 supermarkets have applied to sell alcohol 24-hours a day, Lib Dem culture spokesman Don Foster urged action to prevent superstores becoming “the after-parties of choice for Saturday night revellers”.
“Labour must now review their policy that focuses on binge drinking levies on pubs and bars but fails to tackle supermarkets,” he said.
