Town violence blamed on all-day booze laws

The leader of Shropshire Council has blamed Britain's 24-hour drinking laws for late night problems in town centres.

Councillor Keith Barrow condemned the licensing laws as one of the worst pieces of legislation ever introduced in the county. He blamed the round-the-clock drink laws introduced in 2005 for violence in town centres as more and more people stayed out drinking later and later.

And he said that claims by the then Labour government that more relaxed opening times would lead to a continental-style 'cafe culture' had been proved wrong.

His comments came as a leading licensee called for any plans to impose a late night levy on licensed premises to target pubs that cau- se problems for the police.

Frank Francis, chairman of Oswestry Pubwatch, is worried that Government legislation giving local authorities the power to introduce a charge for premises with a late alcohol licence will be another blow to landlords already struggling to keep going.

Councillor Barrow said: "It was bizarre that the then Government thought its 24-hour licensing laws would turn Britain's towns into France. What happens instead is people get tanked up and then go out to the pubs already intoxicated."

The Home Office says a decision on implementing the new levy on late-opening pubs will be left in the hands of licensing authorities.

Mr Francis, who runs the Red Lion in Bailey Head, said it was unfair that all late-night premises should be penalised.

"I hope if Shropshire Council bring in the levy then it will target the premises that are causing the problems," he said.

"The night-time economy in Shropshire is very fragile at the moment."

Mr Francis said problems caused by alcohol did not start in the pubs, but came from people buying cheap alcohol in supermarkets before going out.

He said: "The culture these days is that people seem to prefer to have a drink at home and not come into town until later in the evening, having already drunk a considerable amount of alcohol."