Licensing Reform Update
The British Beer and Pub Association has warned that thousands of pubs may be forced to open illegally under the new laws on 24th November
because they have not received their new premises licence. Meanwhile Conservative peers won a last-minute motion to delay full implementation
of the Licensing Act until June 2006, and forced an emergency vote in the House of Commons. The Opposition motion to postpone the part of the
Licensing Act which allows longer opening hours was defeated by 74 votes.
The Opposition claim that longer opening hours will exacerbate the problem of binge drinking, whilst licensing minister James Purnell said that
existing laws, with an 11pm curfew, had patently failed to stop binge drinking. Ministers support the CAMRA view that the plans, which come
into effect on 24 November, will encourage ‘grown-up’ drinking habits. The Licensing Act will enable the authorities to close down pubs more
easily, install CCTV, bring in new management or reduce licensing hours.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said only 700 of the 190,000 premises that could apply for 24-hour licences had done so. But 75%
had asked for an opening times extension of between one and three hours.
A government crackdown on drunken behaviour was launched in November with a nationwide poster campaign warning of on-the-spot fines for
disorder.