Round-the-clock drinking not fueling violence

Cthippo · 24 Nov 2006

AFP said:

LONDON - The introduction of round-the-clock pub opening in Britain -- notorious for its binge-drinking culture -- has not led to a feared surge in alcohol-fueled crime.

The government welcomed the findings, published a year after new legislation was introduced, while warning that it was premature to say if drinking habits will change for good.

"It's early days, but there are encouraging signs that the new laws are working," Licensing Minister Shaun Woodward said Thursday.

In a poll of police forces in England and Wales, a majority said there had been no change in alcohol-related offences, the Independent newspaper reported.

Of 24 forces asked, 13 reported no noticeable change in crimes linked to alcohol, such as common assault and threatening behaviour, while six reported a fall and five said there had been a rise.

The government introduced controversial legislation last November allowing pubs and clubs to set their own opening hours in place of the traditional 11:00pm closing time imposed on pubs for years.

Critics of the old system had long argued that it encouraged so-called binge-drinking, as revellers downed as many pints as possible before the landlord closed his doors.

They hoped that under the new system, Britain would gradually become more like other European countries, where long opening hours allow people to drink more slowly and in smaller quantities.

But critics of the new system warned that Britons would not be weaned off their hard-drinking habits anytime soon, forecasting the law would lead to more drunkenness and more fights outside all-night pubs and bars.

In the event, the British Beer and Pub Association said most places were simply serving an hour or two later at weekends, adding that consumption of alcohol had actually dropped by two per cent in the year to September.

But a spokeswoman for the Department for Culture said it was too early to judge whether the new opening hours rules were really changing habits.

"We have got a deep-seated culture of drinking and we are not going to change that in 12 months," she told the Independent.

At the same time, the government published its own survey of how drinking establishments have changed their opening times as a result of the new laws.

The figures showed that some 3,000 licensed premises are open for 24 hours a day -- less than two percent of a total of 200,000 -- while most others are closed by 1:00am.

The government particularly welcomed the variety of opening times, meaning there is no longer a single time when all drinkers thrown out onto the streets, creating a risk of violence.

In general, "responsible adults are enjoying greater choice and freedom in how they spend their leisure time," said the licensing minister.

"But it will take some time before we can draw a truly conclusive picture. In the meantime we'll continue to monitor the act's impact," he added.

Thursday's report came less than a week after a lobby group warned that "binge-drinking" among British children has surged in recent years and risks creating a health "time-bomb."

There has been a 20 percent jump in alcohol-related problems in youngsters over the last four years, according to the latest data from the National Health Service.
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overdosedelusion · 24 Nov 2006

heh, doesnt really bother me, i do all my drinking at home where there are no complete ******s, none of those violent gits, no awful live bands, and no bloody sports. but still, i like the idea of going toa pub at 4am on a weekday, most people will be in bed ^^

Cthippo · 24 Nov 2006

overdosedelusion said:

heh, doesnt really bother me, i do all my drinking at home where there ~~are no~~ is only one complete ******s, none of those violent gits, no awful live bands, and no bloody sports. but still, i like the idea of going toa pub at 4am on a weekday, most people will be in bed ^^
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Sorry, couldn't resist

cpemma · 24 Nov 2006

The government particularly welcomed the variety of opening times, meaning there is no longer a single time when all drinkers thrown out onto the streets, creating a risk of violence.
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Being exact, it's the variety of closing times that reduces mob behaviour.

It seems to be a win-win situation. Drinkers can get refreshed whenever they want (and a few might just want to pop into a pub with the family for a drink and a snack late afternoon) and a load of young male drunks aren't placed in close rutting proximity to each other at 10.40pm most nights.

Police also have far more power to shut places down who don't do enough to keep order on their premises. The ordinary town bobby is very happy.

Nexxo · 24 Nov 2006

I favour the natural selection aspect of it. More drinking opportunities means that binge-drinking troublemakers simply get to drink until their liver explodes. Problem solved.

finboz · 24 Nov 2006

^^ well it was nice knowing you

cpemma · 24 Nov 2006

Nexxo said:

I favour the natural selection aspect of it. More drinking opportunities means that binge-drinking troublemakers simply get to drink until their liver explodes. Problem solved.
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It's never been about alcohol, it's testosterone. Booze just loosens the bonds of civilised behaviour.

Nexxo · 24 Nov 2006

finboz said:

^^ well it was nice knowing you
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Shut up and pass me that bottle.

overdosedelusion · 25 Nov 2006

Cthippo said:

Sorry, couldn't resist
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LOL pwned i guess =P

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Round-the-clock drinking not fueling violence

Cthippo Can't mod my way out of a paper bag

overdosedelusion I mostly come at night, mostly..

Cthippo Can't mod my way out of a paper bag

cpemma Ecky thump

Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

finboz What's a Dremel?

cpemma Ecky thump

Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

overdosedelusion I mostly come at night, mostly..

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Round-the-clock drinking not fueling violence

Cthippo Can't mod my way out of a paper bag

overdosedelusion I mostly come at night, mostly..

Cthippo Can't mod my way out of a paper bag

cpemma Ecky thump

Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

finboz What's a Dremel?

cpemma Ecky thump

Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

overdosedelusion I mostly come at night, mostly..

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