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Must We All Be Punished For A Few Eejits?
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The principle cause of increased drunken violence and misbehaviour is the ridiculous 24 hour licencing regime introduced by the last Labour government. This was introduced, it was said, to "encourage a cafe culture" among Britons and avoid the "tanking up" that took place just before closing time.
Well, a look round any sizeable town or city will demonstrate what a load of cobblers that was. Instead of the police having, say, an hour or so after closing time at most to have pi55heads to deal with, the police now have their hands full throughout the night. Adding a few pence here and there to a pint of Carlsberg will not alter the situation one jot. People have more than enough money to pee up the wall and they will simply continue to do so.
Another mistake, along with the introduction of 24 hour licensing, was to place the licensing regime in the hands of Local Authorities. Prior to that each local Magistrates' Bench had a licensing committee who handled the issue and control of licences. Local Authorities are far less objective when handling such matters and the new law made it very difficult for licences to be refused or removed when drunkeness caused a problem.
Another way to screw money out of law abiding people with the excuse that politicians are "doing something" to address a problem that they were largely responsible for creating in the first place.
Well, a look round any sizeable town or city will demonstrate what a load of cobblers that was. Instead of the police having, say, an hour or so after closing time at most to have pi55heads to deal with, the police now have their hands full throughout the night. Adding a few pence here and there to a pint of Carlsberg will not alter the situation one jot. People have more than enough money to pee up the wall and they will simply continue to do so.
Another mistake, along with the introduction of 24 hour licensing, was to place the licensing regime in the hands of Local Authorities. Prior to that each local Magistrates' Bench had a licensing committee who handled the issue and control of licences. Local Authorities are far less objective when handling such matters and the new law made it very difficult for licences to be refused or removed when drunkeness caused a problem.
Another way to screw money out of law abiding people with the excuse that politicians are "doing something" to address a problem that they were largely responsible for creating in the first place.
Folk who go out and get tanked up are unlikely to worry about the cost. After a few they may not even notice what the club is charging. Supermarket booze tends to be cheaper so, as long as they aren't selling it as loss leaders ... Anyway I thought the excessive taxation was already setting prices. I think I'll buy shares in the home still making industry.
Said the Lords as they staggered from their subsidised bars, hic.
Unusually, I have to disagree with you, NJ, re licencing hours. If grown-ups want a drink and other grown-ups want to sell it to them, I don't think the government should be getting involved.
As the OP says, why should the majority 'suffer' for the sins of the minority?
Unusually, I have to disagree with you, NJ, re licencing hours. If grown-ups want a drink and other grown-ups want to sell it to them, I don't think the government should be getting involved.
As the OP says, why should the majority 'suffer' for the sins of the minority?
Yes you did mention hours, sam, and they are were integral part of the licencing process.
We’re somewhat straying because I don’t believe the minimum pricing proposal will influence pub prices (they already charge more than the proposed minimum). But there is no doubt among police forces that the 24 hour licencing regime has caused them enormous problems. When pubs shut at eleven or thereabouts Old Bill knew they had a busy hour or so but that by midnight or soon after most of the drunks would be off the streets, safely tucked up (with a few of the most intransigent sleeping it off in the cells). Officers could then have their “refs” and spend the rest of the night catching burglars. Now they have no such luxury. Town centre disorder goes on well into the small hours causing the police and local residents untold grief.
Many laws and regulations often curtail the activities of the sensible majority as well as those of the stupid few. A balance has to be struck and I don’t think 24 hour pub opening finds the right balance. It is interesting that you should mention the issue of pubs closing at 3pm. The 2003 Act did not, in fact enable all day opening. That was introduced with a change in licensing laws in 1995. But pubs were still required to close at 11pm following that change. I don’t think anyone is suggesting that allowing pubs to open for a late lunch causes too many problems. It’s those that remain open for a 4am breakfast that are of concern.
We’re somewhat straying because I don’t believe the minimum pricing proposal will influence pub prices (they already charge more than the proposed minimum). But there is no doubt among police forces that the 24 hour licencing regime has caused them enormous problems. When pubs shut at eleven or thereabouts Old Bill knew they had a busy hour or so but that by midnight or soon after most of the drunks would be off the streets, safely tucked up (with a few of the most intransigent sleeping it off in the cells). Officers could then have their “refs” and spend the rest of the night catching burglars. Now they have no such luxury. Town centre disorder goes on well into the small hours causing the police and local residents untold grief.
Many laws and regulations often curtail the activities of the sensible majority as well as those of the stupid few. A balance has to be struck and I don’t think 24 hour pub opening finds the right balance. It is interesting that you should mention the issue of pubs closing at 3pm. The 2003 Act did not, in fact enable all day opening. That was introduced with a change in licensing laws in 1995. But pubs were still required to close at 11pm following that change. I don’t think anyone is suggesting that allowing pubs to open for a late lunch causes too many problems. It’s those that remain open for a 4am breakfast that are of concern.
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