Govt unveils plans to curb the nation’s binge drinking

Thousands of bars across the nation are expected to slash their opening hours in response to the Government’s crackdown on binge drinking Britain.

The crackdown was revealed by Home Secretary Theresa May yesterday as she unveiled the Coalition’s Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill.

And in addition to proposing a £4,500 levy on pubs and bars that wish to open after midnight the Bill also proposes giving the public more power to influence licensing decisions.

Everybody

Speaking yesterday Mrs May said: “Everybody will be allowed the option of commenting on licensing applications, not just those who live close to premises, and health and policing concerns will be considered more widely.

“So the impact of licensing on crime and disorder and public safety will be taken into account.”

Mrs May also announced plans to double fines for establishments which repeatedly sell alcohol to children.

Ban

And she reiterated the Government’s commitment to ban the sale of alcohol at below-cost price.

Earlier this week the Coalition unveiled plans to increase the tax on super-strength beers and lagers, whilst reducing the tax on those of lower strength.

George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced that the additional duty will apply to beers and lagers which have more than 7.5 per cent alcohol content by volume.

Super strength

And while details of the new tax have yet to be revealed it is expected to add £1.50 to a four-pack of super strength lager.

In October Government figures revealed that the number of pubs, bars and nightclubs which had been granted a 24-hour drinking licence had rocketed in the last two years.

Disastrous

Labour’s disastrous 24-hour drinking laws have come under sustained pressure and in July the coalition Government said they would reform the licensing system.

The figures, from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, reveal 7,800 premises have all-day drinking licences.

Of this figure, 1,000 are pubs, bars and nightclubs which is a 43 per cent rise since 2008.

The statistics, which show licenses as of March this year, also revealed that the numbers of premises allowed to sell alcohol are at their highest since records began over 100 years ago.