England 24-hour drink law starts

LONDON, England (AP) -- Legislation permitting 24-hour alcohol sales becomes effective at midnight Wednesday night in England and Wales, causing some to fear increased problems related to drinking.

For the vast majority of pubs, however, the new licensing laws will mean staying open only a little later. Only 700 establishments, including 240 pubs, applied for licenses for around-the-clock sales.

Until now, last call for drinks in pubs has come at 11 p.m.

"The changes are not as dramatic as has been suggested, with most pubs opting to open for a few extra hours a week," said Neil Williams, spokesman for the British Beer and Pub Association.

Martin Shalley, president of the British Association for Emergency Medicine, said he feared that hospital emergency rooms would be busier because of the new laws.

"We already see people who have been injured because they have drunk too much," Shalley said. "I think this is now going to occur a lot more frequently."

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Is it just me or is this really a bad idea????

Its both a good idea and a bad idea. Depends on which way you look at it. I can see that its definately gonna cause more violence and drunken behavior, but for those who just wanna go for a quiet drink down theyre local pub, its great coz it doesnt mean you have to clear off after 11pm. The best thing about this, is that theyre leaving it upto the individual landlord to decide if they so wish to apply for a later licence.

The Cavern Club in Liverpool is one of the first to get a 24 hour licence

Depends, means people dont have to drink up quick & get more pissed that way... ie get as much in as you can before 11

what? Was that during the week or any day of the week? Sounds mighty lame to me

So? Why don't they ban cigarettes entirely - they harm people also...


My state just passed a law where there is no public smoking allowed AT ALL. Not in pubs, not in cigar rooms, etc. In fact, you cannot smoke within 15 feet of a window or door --- which does away with most outside smoking areas for pubs that have that sort of thing. Pretty weird.

Yes, its true Maria. This is of a weekday and weekend. Some 'clubs' have a licence to serve alcohol until 2am, but I dont know of any over here that serve any later than that. There are 'after-party' clubs that stay open as late as 5 or 6 (in very rare cases) but they are not allowed to serve alcoholic drinks. Soft drinks and water only. 99% of pubs and bars stay open until 11.30pm-midnight but they stop serving at 11pm.

Bad idea! Definitely.

I wish they would allow drinking here ....

Sometimes I've been a little annoyed that I haven't been able to buy beer after 10PM when I'm at a house party, but when you're out you can always find somewhere to drink until 2 or even 3AM. It's good in a way, but will cause some problems I think.

Exactly. All it does is encourage binge drinking. Kind of like at concerts where they stop serving alcohol 10 minutes prior to the main act taking stage. You see all those people with two and three beers in their hands, chugging it.... Disgusting.

When I was still a regular on Saturday nights out, I usually wouldn't even leave the house till 10pm.... By the time I get to the club, they would have stopped serving. Wtf?

Don't like those seedy after hours bars - those are vile!

I think its a good idea, party longer!!!!