Binge drinking encouraged under new Licensing Laws

One issue worrying local residents is the extension of licensing hours which many pubs and clubs are seeking under the new Licensing Act. I met a group of publicans in Bridgnorth recently to find out what they were planning to do. The new law encourages pubs to seek longer hours, just in case they might want to use them.

Just as local communities are facing the prospect of more late night drinking on the streets of our towns, new official figures reveal the growing level of serious alcohol abuse amongst under-age drinkers. Prosecutions of teenagers for being drunk and disorderly have soared by 25% under the current Government. At the same time there was not a single under-age teenager prosecuted last year for buying or trying to buy alcohol in West Mercia.

Meanwhile violent crime is rising, up by 7% nationally last year alone, and binge drinking accounted for 55% of all adult offences last year.

Labour's relaxation of licensing controls is likely to fuel violence and anti-social behaviour on our streets. Judges and senior police officers agree. But the Liberal Democrats want to lower the legal drinking age to 16 - which I fear would make it worse.

Residents can object to late night opening applications within 28 days, but under the rigid, 180 page Government guidelines, which councils will be forced to follow, there will be a presumption in favour of late night opening for all pubs and clubs.

At a time when more young people are abusing alcohol, it is wrong to weaken licensing laws and encourage even more late-night drinking which blights our high streets.