Tories: 'councils to sort binge issues'

The Tories will look to individual local authorities to sort out their own binge drinking problems, says Shadow Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

"We are champions of 'localism'. We believe you must push power down and trust local communities to make decisions that are right for them," he told the Morning Advertiser this week.

"We need a licensing policy that has the buy-in and support of local communities. We don't think this is a job for central Government."

Hunt acknowledged this may lead to differing approaches to licensing issues around the country, which could prove difficult for national pub operators. "I compare this problem to when multi-nationals were pressing hard for us to enter the Euro because it suited their interests. The big boys don't always get it right."

Hunt emphasised that the Conservatives are still committed to a review of the 2003 Licensing Act, which would be a cross-departmental exercise.

"The Act was fundamentally misconceived. It fuelled a drinking free-for-all and encouraged binge drinking. The attempt at a café culture has failed.

"We're going to review it, but we're not going to turn the clock back. We don't want to go back to 11pm closing."

Hunt said: "We believe we can change the bingeing culture and get rid of it in the way we've got rid of hooliganism. It has to be tackled by the on and off-trade and police and local authorities working together. These are the people who have a good idea of who's creating problems."

Hunt said he was impressed by the approach taken by St Neots in Cambridgeshire, pioneered by the Wine & Spirit Trade Association.