UK’s 24-hour drinking laws a ‘qualified success’
One of the UK’s leading economic think tanks claims the “doom-mongers” who condemned the introduction of 24-hour drinking in the UK 10 years ago have been proved wrong.
Alcohol consumption per person has fallen by 17% since pubs and clubs were given permission to apply for longer opening licencesA report, named Drinking, Fast and Slow: Ten Years of the Licensing Act, found that alcohol consumption per person has fallen by 17% since pubs and clubs were given permission to apply for longer opening licenses under the Licensing Act – the largest decline since the 1930s.
In addition, the report revealed that fewer people under the age of 45 are binge drinking, and violent crime has reduced by 40%.
Christopher Snowdon, director of lifestyle economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs, compiled the report using official data sources, and claimed the “hysteria” surrounding the claw change in 2005 ” ranks as one of the great moral panics of our time”.
He said: “The evidence is now clear: the doom-mongers were wrong. The biggest consequence of relaxing licensing laws has been that the public are now better able to enjoy a drink at the time and location of their choice.
“Facilitating longer opening hours may have been the best thing the Labour Party ever did.”
Data in the report also revealed the number of 16 to 24 year-olds drinking “excessively”had decreased from 29% to 18%, and crimes thought to be “generally aggravated by alcohol” had fallen by 28%.
Mr Snowden added: “A cautious interpretation of the data suggests that the Act may have improved public health and public order somewhat. It certainly did not worsen them.
“It was clear from the start that Tony Blair’s aim was to diversify the night-time economy, allow greater freedom of choice and improve public order. On those criteria, the Licensing Act has been a qualified success.”
