24-hour drinking turns towns into 'vomitoriums' » Communities » 24dash.com

The Government denied today that 24-hour licensing laws had turned parts of the country into a "vomitorium".

Shadow communities and local government secretary Eric Pickles levelled the charge in the Commons, complaining of an increase in "brawling and bad behaviour".

But Communities Secretary Hazel Blears insisted "staggered" closing times helped reduce trouble, adding: "We now have a better system for managing our night time economy."

The question time clash came after the Local Government Association (LGA) said the introduction of 24-hour licensing laws has failed to reduce drunken violence while costing taxpayers £100 million.

A survey by the LGA found that around seven in 10 police authorities, primary care trusts and councils had seen either no change or an increase in alcohol-related disorder.

Seizing on the report, Mr Pickles said it had "branded 24-hour drinking a failure".

He said: "They have warned that violence continues to blight the streets leaving taxpayers with a totally unacceptable £100 million bill.

"On top of this local authorities have lost £43 million on licensing costs. Do you believe that 24-hour drinking is a social experiment that has failed?"

Ms Blears said the number of 24-hour licences was "tiny" and the relaxation of the rules allowed people to drink at different time.

"If you talk to the police, you will find, in your area as in mine, that the police are actually pleased now that we have staggered closing times - we don't have the scenes on the streets that we used to have when people used to come out all at the same time."

Mr Pickles said the overwhelming majority of health authorities and councils had reported pressure on resources.

"You can't kid yourself any longer," he told the minister. "Our towns are nightly being turned into a vomitorium, with brawling and bad behaviour.

"In March 2004, you said the reforms would create a continental cafe bar culture.

"How did your dream of a nation at ease with itself, gently sipping Chardonnay, turn into something more like chucking out time at Deadwood?"

Ms Blears replied: "If you think my dream was of people gently sipping Chardonnay, perhaps you've not been out on a night out in Manchester.

"A night out in Manchester now is a much more pleasant experience because the police are active on the streets and the local authority has introduced a best bar none award, so the best bars get rewarded for managing their premises properly.

"People can go out and thoroughly enjoy themselves in a safe environment. That's about making practical policies that work on the ground.

"Local authority trading standards departments have done an excellent job on cracking down on some of the off-licences and pubs that have been selling drinks to underage youngsters.

"Those are the kind of problems we need to tackle and at the same time allow the vast majority of people who go out and have a drink and enjoy themselves to be able to do just that."