BBC NEWS | Politics | Pub plans face crunch MPs’ vote: “He [licensing minister James Purnell ] told the BBC: ‘The hours are part of the problem, because by having a firm cut off time at 11pm, people engage in speed drinking… the only places able to stay open after 11pm at the moment are those which put on music and dancing… exactly the kinds of places that people might worry about most. “
Eh? We’re afraid of dancing and music now? Surely the problem is the people who aren’t dancing? The ones who are sitting in parks with a two litre bottle of cider? Or the ones ordering 4 pints at 22:55 as it’s nearly closing time? Or how about the people who go to clubs and refuse to dance (you know who you are)!
Perhaps that’s the solution. You can drink as late as you like as long as you strut your stuff on the dancefloor…
I know I’d end up going home early…
4 Responses to “BBC NEWS | Politics | Pub plans face crunch MPs’ vote”
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Isn’t he just trying to say that as clubs have late licenses, that when it comes to 2 or 3am or whenever they close that you disgorge onto the streets an large number of people at the same time, many of whom would be rather ‘tipsy’ who would be more likely to either cause criminal damage, defecate in public, engage in other (noisy) anit-social behaviour, or end up fights.
24hr licensing means that there’s no incentive to find a club just purely because it has a late licence- so there’s no need to get tanked up at a club.
People can go to a club just to enjoy the music- they won’t have to drink as there’s no limit- they can stay in a bar if all they want to do is drink.
He’s right about speed drinking and you are right about those who order 4 pints just before Time, just for the sake of it.
There’s just no need.
It will be a culture shock. But after some months, people’ll realise they don’t have to get tanked.
You don’t see this sort of behaviour abroad where the time restrictions have been less for a long time.
But for them, it’s inbuilt into their culture.
For us, we’ll have to learn.
It’s ridiculous that most of us get penalised because of a few yobs. Why can’t they remove licensing hours restrictions entirely (like France) and instead of restricting hours – restrict people. Ban the yobs who get in fights from all the pubs in their area – force them to sit at home knitting or something.
I still don’t get the drinking/fighting thing. Surely if booze makes you aggressive to the extent you want to fight people – you wouldn’t want to drink?
No. If your life sucks, then going out getting smashed & taking your frustrations out on someone else to try & make you feel better seems like a good idea.
But yeah, it should be also the publican/establishments responsibility to enforce that those who are close to their limit are not served or are evicted before things can get bad.
Oh I know there are ways round it- you’re wasted, so you get a mate to go to the bar, but it just seems that bars aren’t proactive enough in not serving the aggressive drunks (the quiet ones are ok).
Mind you- the thing I noticed in the paper this morning- although the new licensing has gone thro- much to the Tory’s chagrin- and X thousand of places have been approved extended licences, it appears that only a very small number will actually Serve longer.
So the licencing is in, but the 11pm deadline is still in place, so you’re still gonna get the same binge drink and yobbish behaviour up to the deadline.
So what’s the point?
The new licence will only be mainly used for private functions, so places can charge more for the extended hours, not for regular public.
Ah well.
It’s a complicated scenario isn’t it?
Have to go to court in a few months to give evidence after being punched in the face for no reason at kicking out time.
It was a harsh and painful reminder of the differences between European drinking culture, and the British.
Sure, there are drunken fools here, too. And sure, some of those hurt other people, but it’s so rare to hear of completely un-motivated attacks.
The ferret is right.. I was hit because that guy needed to hit me.
The law has been changed, but NOTHING has changed in the suburbs. In fact, i suspect people are more agitated because, well, we’re allowed to drink anytime we want, but no bugger is open to sell you a drink.
Somehow, I don’t think thats going to calm people down…