Customers confused over licensing laws
Confusion about the new licensing laws among pub customers is causing trouble for licensees across the country.
One week into the new licensing regime, the true cost of widespread misinformation about so-called "24-hour drinking" spread by the national newspapers, is becoming apparent.
News has reached The Publican of licensees who are suffering problems getting customers to leave their pubs as they believe flexible licensing hours mean pubs are going to be open for 24 hours, seven days a week.
Customers are also not clear that even if the pub has extended its hours it is entitled to close at any time.
Ironically the incidents in pubs are happening as the widely-predicted binge-drinking "armageddon" on the streets has failed to materialise. Police in South Wales, the West Midlands and Greater Manchester all told The Publican that despite the scaremongering the first days of the new licensing regime passed off quietly.
Licensee John Whyman of the Red Lion in Bishopsgate, Norwich, was assaulted and had the windows of his pub smashed when he asked a group of drinkers to leave his pub at normal closing time. He has applied for extended hours, which are yet to be granted, but despite informing the customers, they presumed they were entitled to drink for as long as they wanted.
He told The Publican: "They asked me 'Why are you lying to us about your licence?' I think people assume that the new licensing regime means 24/7 opening and the pub will stay open all the time. People have not been properly informed."
Another licensee who asked not to be named said he was arrested after ejecting a drunken customer from his pub at the new closing time of 12.30am. In the ensuing struggle the individual complained about the licensee's conduct to the police, who arrested him.
Tony Payne, chief executive of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Associations, said: "People are reading the press and think pubs are open for 24-hours. Customers are confused by the misleading headlines in the papers.
"The important thing for pubs is to make clear what opening hours you have."
