03/03/2008
24-Hour Drinking Legislation Criticised
The introduction of 24-hour drinking licenses has been criticised by council leaders.
Speaking to the 'Daily Telegraph', Local Government Association Chairman Sir Simon Milton said that the legislation had turned Britain's town centres into no-go areas and urged the government to give local authorities the power to block late-night drinking licenses. He also called for a rise in the cost of alcohol, in order to help reduce binge drinking.
Sir Simon told the Telegraph that the legislation had been "sold on a clear bill that this act was intended to change Britain's drinking culture by turning us from a nation of binge drinkers into a continental café culture". However, he said that the legislation had "failed miserably" and that violence and disorder "have not reduced by anyone's measure", but instead have been pushed later into the night, resulting in police resources being stretched.
Sir Simon's comments come ahead of the publication of a review of the Licensing Act, which introduced 24-hour drinking, tomorrow.
In an interview with the 'Daily Mirror', Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that the government would not overturn the 24-hour licensing laws, but said that the sale of alcohol to under-18s would be clamped down upon, by targeting off-licenses which persistently sell to minors.
Mr Brown said that the current rules, which state that shops have to be caught selling alcohol to under-18s three times in three months before they lose their license, should be lowered to two offences in three months.
(KMcA)
Speaking to the 'Daily Telegraph', Local Government Association Chairman Sir Simon Milton said that the legislation had turned Britain's town centres into no-go areas and urged the government to give local authorities the power to block late-night drinking licenses. He also called for a rise in the cost of alcohol, in order to help reduce binge drinking.
Sir Simon told the Telegraph that the legislation had been "sold on a clear bill that this act was intended to change Britain's drinking culture by turning us from a nation of binge drinkers into a continental café culture". However, he said that the legislation had "failed miserably" and that violence and disorder "have not reduced by anyone's measure", but instead have been pushed later into the night, resulting in police resources being stretched.
Sir Simon's comments come ahead of the publication of a review of the Licensing Act, which introduced 24-hour drinking, tomorrow.
In an interview with the 'Daily Mirror', Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that the government would not overturn the 24-hour licensing laws, but said that the sale of alcohol to under-18s would be clamped down upon, by targeting off-licenses which persistently sell to minors.
Mr Brown said that the current rules, which state that shops have to be caught selling alcohol to under-18s three times in three months before they lose their license, should be lowered to two offences in three months.
(KMcA)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.