RESIDENTS should do everything they can to stop their local pubs extending opening hours, according to the region's top public health boss.
Prof John Ashton, north west regional director of public health, has accused landlords and brewers of "shameful cynicism" in trying to exploit government plans to relax laws and introduce irresponsible 24-hour drinking.
The outspoken critic of binge drinking claimed that far from promoting responsible drinking, pubs and clubs were simply moving back "throwing out" time by applying for 12am and 1am licenses.
Councils have warned they are virtually powerless to stop applications for later closing times unless people object.
Shake-up
About two thirds of licensed premises are estimated to have already asked to close later under a massive government shake-up of British drinking laws.
Prof Ashton, pictured left, said: "The drinks industry is behaving like the tobacco industry did 30 years ago, by feigning social responsibility while shamefully exploiting the licensing laws to boost sales.
"Far from seeing a spreading out of drinking times, the drinks industry is colluding to use the new freedoms to move pub closing times one or two hours later into the night.
"This means we will still see pubs and bars closing at roughly the same time, but with the spill-out onto the streets an hour or so later than now and with larger quantities of alcohol consumed.
"This is a recipe for disaster and I would urge people to find out if their local pubs plan to submit applications to stay open late. If so, they should object.”
Chorus
Prof Ashton added his voice to a growing chorus of local criticism of the new Licensing Act, which comes into force in November.
Manchester District Judge Alan Berg said the licensing de-restriction could bring the country’s “excess drinking disease” to epidemic proportions.
Clive Wolfendale, deputy chief constable of North Wales Police, called for booze prices to be tripled to combat alcohol-related crime.
And the Bishop of Manchester, the Right Rev Nigel McCulloch, warned there was a “real danger” of more rather than less drinking.
David Davis, the Tory leadership front-runner, predicted “disaster” in the MEN last week.
Irresponsible
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell has said irresponsible pubs and clubs will be shut down.
Manchester city council is one of a number to admit that they have been unable to refuse applications where members of the public failed to raise concerns, provided they met a series of “objectives”. Those include provision for crime, protection of children from harm and upholding public safety.
The deadline for applications for new licenses passed this month.
Do you think pubs should be allowed extended drinking hours? Have your say.
Tweet
Comments
Login or Register to comment
Yes we should be able to drink more!!! If we drink more I will get laid more!!! If I get laid more I will be a Happy bunny!!!
Drinking should be banned along with cigarettes!! If they had never been here in the first place people would have just survived the same without them!! They are dangerous killers!!! BAN THEM FULL STOP!!!!
Katie thats a bit over the top you having a bad day!!! I mean beer helps many many people!! I mean normally shy people to take clothes off and dance!!! Ugly people to get laid!!! Beer is a wonderful creation and a comment like you just made must mean that you are allergic??
A public house across the road from me in middleton is one of the pubs to apply for a 24 liquor licence, The police had to be called last saturday night-sunday morning due to yobish behaviour,
what is going to happen when and if they get there wish of 24hour drinking.
They can't manage the hours they have now .
The majority of the adult population will not abuse the longer opening hours when they commence.
The novelty will soon wear off.
Let's also be fair to people who work unsocial hours. Why should they be denied the opportunity to have a social drink after their labours?
Manage the situation properly and not let mindless youth spoil it for the mature adults in society.
Along with some neighbours (who live very close to a small pub) we raised objections to the proposed extensionsand variations lo licenses! Imagine our disgust and sense of betrayal when it was reported in our local rag that 'Only 3 people have objected...' Then at the Council Committee meeting which was very officious and set to order, it seemed to be very much a 'Rubber Stamping job'. Other cases of pubs got their variations through merely by withdrawing one original application and replacing it with asimilar application. Then because there were no objections to this 'new application', the variation + extensions were allowed. I do feel very disgusted at this sham enaction of my democratic choice. On the Council forms, it said that under EEC rules, I had a right to the peaceful enjoyment of my own possessions (ie. in my own home!) This got scant or no regard from the Councillors whose own intent seemed to be the Rubber Stamping of this harmful Law. What will happen when the workers turn up at work either the worse for wear through excessive drink or through lack of sleep due to rowdy drinkers??? Will this new Law bring about the longfeared for Breakdown in Society??? I could go on, but is it worth it???
I cant see what the problem will be with the pubs staying open until 2 am because you can already drink until 2 am now but you have to pay a greedy night club the price of admission to do so and the streets wont be any more full at closing time. I think that maybe it would be a good thing because a pub environment is more controlled than a night club and people will behave better in a pub than they would in a night club. Either way the novelty will wear off in time.
I have no doubt that the new late licensing will be respected by the vast majority of people. Problem is that these extended opening times are being proposed as a solution to the sorts of yobbish behaviour and anti-social problems caused by a few. It'll be these same irresponsible few that abuse the new laws and use them to drink more - causing greater problems spread over a longer period. The solution to this problem should be far more serious punishment for drunken and yobbish behaviour - not giving a licence to drink more! Just another example of this country being unable to deal with crime in an effective manner!
Reply to comment: No i am not allergic i just decide not to drink as i dont see the point i have equally as good a time when im out drinking soft drinks as people who get absolutely drunk except i feel fine the next day and the other individuals are suffering in bed!! This is a personel decision due to various things that have happened in my life!!
Listen all of you!!! Beer will always be the winner!!! Just because a few of you probably have been alchy's in the past don't take it out on the beer loving public!!!
I'm the same as you Katie. There need to be more people like us eh? I see my friends drink themselves stupid and for what? I just think they waste their money and show themselves up
Thanks T.Hawkins at least there is someone who agrees with me!! More needs to be done to make people realise the dangers of alcohol!!!