Ministers commit to overhaul of licensing laws in push for growth

Plan to let pubs and clubs open later 'a charter for chaos', say health experts

- Denis Campbell Health policy editor

Pubs, clubs and restaurants will be allowed to open into the early hours as part of a government economic growth push that critics say will lead to more drunken disorder.

Ministers are pushing ahead with the plans to allow premises selling alcohol to extend opening hours to boost “the British night out” and help the hospitality sector.

Keir Starmer is preparing to back the plan drawn up by leaders of the alcohol and hospitality industries and rubber-stamped by the Treasury.

However, critics say a liberalisation of the alcohol licensing regime in England and Wales will erode councils' right to decide on opening hours, hand the drink industry unprecedented power and limit the ability of people affected by late-night openings to object.

The plans amount to “a charter for chaos” that will lead to more drink-related aggression, greater violence against women and even more deaths from alcohol, health experts claim.

The plans would “allow an open all hours free-for-all in the availability of alcohol”, said Dr Katherine Severi, the chief executive of the Institute of Alcohol Studies thinktank.

Local authorities and police and crime commissioners fear that extended opening will bring more noise, nuisance and antisocial behaviour affecting nearby residents.

Dr Richard Piper, the chief executive of the charity Alcohol Change UK, said: “These proposed reforms, developed without adequate input from policing, ambulance services, local licensing authorities, health experts or citizens are a charter for chaos. One of the biggest things that people across the country are desperate to see is safer streets with less antisocial behaviour.

“Yet these proposals - little more than an alcohol industry wishlist - would deliver the opposite.