Drinking hours

Britain is suffering an epidemic of alcohol-related problems with one in 20 people dependent on drink and as many at serious risk of liver disease, the Royal College of Physicians said on Monday.

Twenty-four-hour opening is expected to begin in November.

Government Response: Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Richard Caborn, culture minister, said: "Life has changed. You don't just get alcohol now from those licensed premises.

"We will give police, councils and other enforcement agencies more powers to deal with those acting irresponsibly in the licensed trade. Alongside that we will have an educational programme."

Stakeholder Response: Royal College of Physicians

Professor Ian Gilmore, chairman of the RCP alcohol committee, said: "We are facing an epidemic of alcohol-related harm and to extend the licensing hours flies in the face of common sense as well as the evidence from other countries.

"Plans to stagger the times that pubs closed to reduce the numbers of people turning out on to the streets at one time was an attempt to manage drunkenness rather than prevent it.

"The college believes reducing the availability of alcohol and increasing the price is the way forward but this is unpalatable for politicians.

"From next month pubs and clubs will be able to apply to local councils to extend hours to all day and night. Twenty-four-hour opening is expected to begin in November.

"Supporters of 24-hour opening say it will lead to a continental way of drinking and reduce the binge culture. But Prof Gilmore said it was 'fanciful' to think Britain could become a Mediterranean-style wine sipping, non-binge drinking culture, by licensing regulations. Experience abroad showed that longer opening hours led to more violence."

"We must think about regulation."

Stakeholder Response: Bar, Entertainment and Dance Association

A spokesman for BEDA said: "The Royal College of Physicians are only the latest in a growing list of organisations to have voiced concern over the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003, which brings with it the possibility of longer licensing hours. 

 

"BEDA has long warned against the automatic assumption, oft repeated by DCMS, that an extension in trading hours will bring automatic public order benefits.  However, neither can it be assumed that the new Act will lead to increased alcohol related disorder.