'24-hour drinking' backlash

Conservative Party leader Michael Howard has raised an early day motion (EDM) calling for a delay to the reforms in the new Licensing Act that enable pubs to extend hours.

He has taken the step because he believes the new legislation will result in a 24-hour drinking culture, adding to the problems of binge-drinking.

While unlikely to actually change policy, it is aimed at putting pressure on the government over the new legislation. The move follows a Daily Mail campaign launched yesterday (pictured)​ in opposition to changes to opening hours under the new licensing regime. The paper is suggesting the Act will deliver a "drink-sodden law that no one wants".

Yet according to The Publican Market Report 2004​, only one per cent of licensees are planning to open 24 hours all week, while two per cent are planning to open round-the-clock at the weekends.

The Mail has generated the support of senior police officers and MPs as part of the campaign and in what it calls its "great rebellion" it hopes this can convince the government to change the reform that is now law.

John McNamara, chief executive of the BII, said: "People are still under the illusion that pubs are going to be open 24 hours a day. Feedback from our members has shown that the majority will look to extend opening times by only one or two hours and they have based this on feedback from their customers."

A spokesman for the Department for Media, Culture & Sport (DCMS) said the current licensing system was "creaking and could not cope". He said: "The new laws will give responsible people more choice about how they spend their leisure time and new powers to the police and local residents to crack down on yobbish behaviour."

As this article was posted the DCMS was close to announcing confirmation of the new premises licence conversion/variation forms.

But confirmation on the licensing fee structure is expected to take some time due to a massive response in consultation with more than 500 submissions.

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