Survey: police are using review power

Residents and police are using their new powers under the Licensing Act to take action against pubs and other licensed venues, new Government figures show.

The first Government survey of its kind since the Licensing Act was introduced in November 2005 shows there were nearly 700 licence reviews in the 12 months to March 2007. Of these:

l 90 licences were revoked

l 91 licences were suspended for up to three months

l 110 premises were made to change their opening hours

l 390 premises had other conditions placed on their licence.

Poppleston Allen lawyer Graeme Cushion said: "The police have been using review powers to bring premises into line where there are instances of crime and disorder. They have also been using review powers when pubs fail test-purchase operations.

"There have been plenty of instances of reviews being taken after action from residents, particularly recently due to the noise outside from smokers. We've also had residents objecting en masse to variations."

Licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe said: "The new laws give local people and police the power to ask for a review of a licence any time a problem occurs. That puts the onus back on the licensee - behave or risk closing early or even having your licence revoked."

As of 31 March, there were 176,400 licensed premises in England and Wales. Of those, 122,900 sell alcohol - 27,900 on the premises, 32,600 off the premises, while 62,400 venues are licensed for both on and off-sales.

There were 100,000 temporary events notices issued in the 12 months to 31 March. In addition, 81,300 premises are licensed to host entertainment such as music, and 50,000 premises - including pubs - are licensed to sell hot food after 11pm.

24-hour reality

The survey puts a nail in the coffin of the idea that Britain would be awash with "24-hour pubs" under the Licensing Act.

Of the 5,100 premises with 24-hour licences, just 460 (9%) are pubs, bars and nightclubs. Most 24-hour licences belong to hotel bars, which make up 65% of the total, while supermarkets and stores account for 18%.

Sutcliffe said: "I'm pleased [the figures] put to bed the theory that this law is all about 24-hour drinking. It isn't.

"Less than 3% of premises are licensed to sell alcohol round-the-clock and two thirds of those are hotels, which have always been able to serve their guests for 24 hours a day. Only around 1% of premises have 24-hour licences to sell alcohol to the public - and many only open longer hours on special occasions."

BBPA rejects Lib dem claims that Laws are failing

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has rejected claims by the Liberal Democrats that the data shows the Government is "failing to enforce the licensing laws".

Lib Dem culture spokesman Don Foster called for the Government to "start holding Britain's pubs, bars and off-licences to account for the country's binge-drinking problems".

Foster pointed to the small proportion of outlets that have suffered suspensions of premises licences - 69 out of 122,900. Out of 252,600 personal licences, 13 were suspended and 11 revoked.

The Bath MP linked these figures to rising alcohol-related disorder, pointing to more than one million violent incidents involving alcohol in 2006/2007.

BBPA director of communications Mark Hastings said: "Far from an indication of failure, these numbers are a clear signal of success. The fact that very small numbers of pubs have had their licences reviewed or revoked clearly shows that pubs are neither perceived to be, nor are they in reality, causing any problems for their local communities.

"Residents, police and local authorities aren't instituting reviews because they do not believe them to be necessary.

"Since the new Act was introduced the amount we drink as a nation has been consistently falling - last year was the largest fall for 15 years."