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Brown 'may reverse drinking laws' | Brown 'may reverse drinking laws' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Gordon Brown has said he could overturn the recent law allowing pubs in England and Wales to open 24 hours a day. | Gordon Brown has said he could overturn the recent law allowing pubs in England and Wales to open 24 hours a day. |
The prime minister said binge-drinking was "unacceptable" and that he would "not hesitate to change policies" if he thought this was necessary. | |
He told Labour's annual conference the government would shut down off-licences selling alcohol to children. | |
Mr Brown began a review of extended licensing hours, brought in by Tony Blair, when he became PM in June. | |
'Looking again' | 'Looking again' |
In a speech to Labour's annual conference in Bournemouth, the prime minister said: "Binge-drinking and under-age drinking that disrupt neighbourhoods are unacceptable. | |
"To punish: let me tell the shops that repeatedly sell alcohol to those who are under-age - we will take your licence away. | |
Where there are things that are wrong and where mistakes have been made, we will look at these and we will change these things Gordon Brown | |
"To prevent: councils should use new powers to ban alcohol in troublespots and I call on the industry to do more to advertise the dangers of teenage drinking." | |
Mr Brown earlier told BBC Radio 4'sToday programme there was an "issue" about 24-hour licensing. | |
He added: "That's why we are reviewing it. Where there are things that are wrong and where mistakes have been made, we will look at these and we will change these things. | He added: "That's why we are reviewing it. Where there are things that are wrong and where mistakes have been made, we will look at these and we will change these things. |
"That's why on casinos we are looking again, on cannabis we are looking again and that's why on 24-hour drinking we are looking again." | "That's why on casinos we are looking again, on cannabis we are looking again and that's why on 24-hour drinking we are looking again." |
Laws allowing 24-hour licensing were brought in at the end of 2005. | Laws allowing 24-hour licensing were brought in at the end of 2005. |
A Home Office inquiry into the subject is expected to report by the end of the year. | A Home Office inquiry into the subject is expected to report by the end of the year. |