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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Review 'backs 24-hour licensing' | Review 'backs 24-hour licensing' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A review of 24-hour drinking laws is expected to say that they have been a success - although ministers admit there are "some areas of concern". | A review of 24-hour drinking laws is expected to say that they have been a success - although ministers admit there are "some areas of concern". |
| The government review will conclude the laws should stay - but with a crackdown on alcohol sales to the under-18s. | The government review will conclude the laws should stay - but with a crackdown on alcohol sales to the under-18s. |
| Licensing Minister Gerry Sutcliffe said consumption was down and crime had fallen but there was a problem with alcohol-fuelled violence between 3-6am. | Licensing Minister Gerry Sutcliffe said consumption was down and crime had fallen but there was a problem with alcohol-fuelled violence between 3-6am. |
| Critics say binge drinking has not been cut by the new licensing laws. | Critics say binge drinking has not been cut by the new licensing laws. |
| The changes have also put more pressure on police and councils, they say. | The changes have also put more pressure on police and councils, they say. |
| Fines increase | Fines increase |
| Gordon Brown announced a review of the Licensing Act shortly after becoming prime minister in June last year. | Gordon Brown announced a review of the Licensing Act shortly after becoming prime minister in June last year. |
| The law, which came into force in 2005, allows pubs and clubs in England and Wales to apply for later - or even 24-hour - licences to serve alcohol. | The law, which came into force in 2005, allows pubs and clubs in England and Wales to apply for later - or even 24-hour - licences to serve alcohol. |
| It was supposed to usher into Britain a continental-style cafe culture. It is thought that about 3% of establishments have applied for round-the-clock pub opening. | |
| The review is expected to give the policy a mark of seven out of 10, with "excellent" results in most areas. | The review is expected to give the policy a mark of seven out of 10, with "excellent" results in most areas. |
| People need to be re-educated about their drinking habits Tim Martin, Wetherspoon chairman | People need to be re-educated about their drinking habits Tim Martin, Wetherspoon chairman |
| Ministers will point to the latest figures, which suggest a fall of 1% in overall crime and of 10% in violent crime committed since licensing laws changed. | Ministers will point to the latest figures, which suggest a fall of 1% in overall crime and of 10% in violent crime committed since licensing laws changed. |
| A tougher system of red and yellow cards will be introduced for landlords and shop keepers breaching licensing laws. It would firstly impose conditions and ultimately revoke licences. | A tougher system of red and yellow cards will be introduced for landlords and shop keepers breaching licensing laws. It would firstly impose conditions and ultimately revoke licences. |
| The prime minister has already said it would include a "two strikes and you're out" rule for off-licences caught selling alcohol to people under 18. | The prime minister has already said it would include a "two strikes and you're out" rule for off-licences caught selling alcohol to people under 18. |
| And fines for people caught drinking in public places where it is banned will be increased from £500 to £2,500. | And fines for people caught drinking in public places where it is banned will be increased from £500 to £2,500. |
| For the last couple of years we haven't seen the decrease in alcohol-related offences Jan BerryPolice Federation | For the last couple of years we haven't seen the decrease in alcohol-related offences Jan BerryPolice Federation |
| Pressed on the success of 24-hour drinking, Mr Sutcliffe conceded: "I think it's a mixed situation, where in certain areas police and local authorities are working well, in others it is not. | Pressed on the success of 24-hour drinking, Mr Sutcliffe conceded: "I think it's a mixed situation, where in certain areas police and local authorities are working well, in others it is not. |
| "We are not complacent - we know we need to rebalance the Act in favour of better enforcement. | "We are not complacent - we know we need to rebalance the Act in favour of better enforcement. |
| "Consumption is down and over-all crime is down, but there is a problem between 3am and 6am. We need to identify why that's a problem," he told the BBC. | "Consumption is down and over-all crime is down, but there is a problem between 3am and 6am. We need to identify why that's a problem," he told the BBC. |
| But Jan Berry, chairman of the Police Federation, said: "For the last couple of years we haven't seen the decrease in alcohol-related offences. | But Jan Berry, chairman of the Police Federation, said: "For the last couple of years we haven't seen the decrease in alcohol-related offences. |
| "We have seen an increase in the number of police officers assaulted." | "We have seen an increase in the number of police officers assaulted." |
| 'Enforce the law' | 'Enforce the law' |
| Sir Simon Milton, chairman of the Local Government Association which represents local authorities, said the idea that late-night licences would end binge drinking had totally failed. | Sir Simon Milton, chairman of the Local Government Association which represents local authorities, said the idea that late-night licences would end binge drinking had totally failed. |
| He said policing resources were being stretched further into the night because of people who had been drinking. | He said policing resources were being stretched further into the night because of people who had been drinking. |
| Tim Martin, chairman of the Wetherspoon pub chain, told BBC2's Newsnight that 24-hour licensing had not helped counter binge drinking. | Tim Martin, chairman of the Wetherspoon pub chain, told BBC2's Newsnight that 24-hour licensing had not helped counter binge drinking. |
| "People need to be re-educated about their drinking habits. It's worked really well with drink driving, but you have to persuade people it's a bad idea to get paralytic," he said. | "People need to be re-educated about their drinking habits. It's worked really well with drink driving, but you have to persuade people it's a bad idea to get paralytic," he said. |
| Labour MP Martin Salter, a member of the Commons home affairs committee, blamed binge drinking on those who made alcohol too easily available to young people. | Labour MP Martin Salter, a member of the Commons home affairs committee, blamed binge drinking on those who made alcohol too easily available to young people. |
| 'Extraordinary behaviour' | 'Extraordinary behaviour' |
| "The problem is the availability of cheap alcohol from supermarkets and the fact that, actually, most teenagers are getting alcohol either from family members or from parents or from irresponsible shopkeepers," he said. | "The problem is the availability of cheap alcohol from supermarkets and the fact that, actually, most teenagers are getting alcohol either from family members or from parents or from irresponsible shopkeepers," he said. |
| Shadow immigration minister Damian Green said he believed the government was "behaving extraordinarily by saying 24-hour drinking is here to stay". | Shadow immigration minister Damian Green said he believed the government was "behaving extraordinarily by saying 24-hour drinking is here to stay". |
| Chris Huhne, the Liberal Democrats' home affairs spokesman, said: "The basic problem is not that we need new powers and penalties - it's that we need to enforce the law that we've already got". | Chris Huhne, the Liberal Democrats' home affairs spokesman, said: "The basic problem is not that we need new powers and penalties - it's that we need to enforce the law that we've already got". |
| Government figures published last November suggested 500 pubs and clubs had been granted 24-hour licences since the laws were introduced. | Government figures published last November suggested 500 pubs and clubs had been granted 24-hour licences since the laws were introduced. |
| Ministers said the "vast majority" of 24-hour licences went to hotels, which serve only to their guests. | Ministers said the "vast majority" of 24-hour licences went to hotels, which serve only to their guests. |