Afternoon:
15°c
An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
London faces a wave of bus and Tube strikes that could cause chaos for millions of passengers as unions walkout over pay and conditions
More...
Cabinet Minister admits: We can't curb the binge-drinkers
Last updated at 09:07am on 01.01.07
Hazel Blears (top) has admitted Britons enjoy boozing too much to drink responsibly
Labour's 24-hour licensing laws have failed to curb the binge-drinking culture, a Cabinet Minister has admitted.
It was the first Government admission that the Licensing Act has failed in its stated aim of ushering in a civilised 'cafe society'. It came as police leave was cancelled in preparation for a New Year's Eve of unprecedented mayhem. Mrs Blears, the Labour Party chairman, exploded the predictions of Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, that switching to round-the-clock opening would usher in a relaxed Continental-style of drinking, free from trouble. Her remarks also bring into question Government assertions that the change has not caused problems. Anecdotal evidence from police and medics suggests that, rather than a reduction in town centre chaos, there is now more than ever. Mrs Blears admitted: 'I don't know whether we'll ever get to be in a European drinking culture, where you go out and have a single glass of wine. Maybe it's our Anglo-Saxon mentality. 'We actually enjoy getting drunk. I think there is a bit about risk-taking - people want to push the limits of danger. So as a politician I don't think there are any easy answers.' The timing of her remarks was an acute embarrassment for the Government as it prepared for the second New Year's Eve since extended opening began in November 2005. Thousands of pubs opened at 11am and will not close until 11pm after a 36-hour drinking marathon of unprecedented scale. Culture Secretary Mrs Jowell made the move to a 'cafe culture' a key justification for forcing through 24-hour drinking in the face of opposition from medics, the police, judges and the Daily Mail. Speaking in 2002, she said: 'The Licensing Bill will encourage a more civilised atmosphere in pubs, bars and restaurants and will increase choice for consumers. Existing laws have neither encouraged the emergence of the civilised cafe society nor have they prevented the growth in drink-related anti-social behaviour. It's time to fulfil our commitment to change the rules.' Mrs Blears, a probable contender for Labour's deputy leadership, also expressed grave concern about the health effects of binge-drinking. In her interview with the Sunday Times she said: 'People are getting quite serious health conditions earlier - things like liver problems in their twenties and thirties. I think we've got to do more education now.' Opposition MPs seized on her remarks. Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said: 'This shows why the Government should have listened to our calls to pilot 24-hour drinking so that its consequences could be properly assessed. 'Instead, they simply unleashed it on our towns and communities, betraying a complete lack of regard for the safety and well-being of the public.' Norman Brennan, director of the Victims of Crime Trust, questioned why Mrs Blears had not spoken out when the law was being debated. She was a Home Office minister in charge of the police at the time. Mr Brennan added: 'When will this Government start listening to what the public wants, rather than what it thinks is best? If they did so on 24-hour drinking they would get a rude awakening. People did not - and do not - want it. Police cells are full up with drunks.' The Government insists all has gone well since the law change, but has yet to publish any data on alcohol-related violence. The only figures which have been released show a sharp rise in the number of arrests for alcoholrelated offences during the Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaigns held each year in the run-up to Christmas and in midsummer. In a further alarming sign of the binge- drinking culture, the personal safety firm IdentifyMe unveiled an identity bracelet for young women who plan to drink themselves into oblivion. It is covered-with beads and crystals and engraved with contact details of a parent or responsible friend. Costing up to £70, it is intended to be used by nightclub staff or emergency service workers when the wearer passes out or is too drunk to speak coherently. Don Shenker, policy director of Alcohol Concern, said: 'What concerns us is that young women may feel it is safe to drink to excess because they have their tag. 'That is dangerous, not only for the health implications, but because they may find themselves in situations where the bracelet will offer no protection at all.' A spokesman for Mrs Blears denied that she had described the Licensing Act as a failure. He said she had stressed that some of the worst predictions of violence had not come true. Mrs Blears said in her interview: 'The 24-hour drinking was supposed to be the end of life as we know it. That hasn't happened.' The Department of Culture said: 'Hazel Blears was right to point out that the new licensing laws have been more of a success than many expected - but at the same time that there are no easy answers. 'We have never claimed that the Licensing Act by itself was going to transform the social habits of a nation. It is one important part of a wider effort to change the public's attitude towards alcohol.'
It is exactly the same in New Zealand and Australia...random, booze-fuelled violence, thugishness and anti-social behavior on an unbelievable scale. Maybe it's a Commonwealth thing - I live in California and people certainly drink, but it does not seem to cause the societal problems on anywhere near the scale it does in England and Australasia. There isn't that strangely British compulsion here to have to always get paralytic and bash someone for little or no reason. I must admit I don't miss the drunken street mayhem I've witnessed often in London and New Zealand.
I was born and for the first major part of my life lived in Belgium where licensing hours have always been fairly flexible, yet there doesn't seem to be any problem with binge drinking.
Hazel Blears is correct about the boozers - this government with 'freebie Blair' as its leader is enought to drive the most sober of us to drink!
Once again this Government has shown it's blatant disregard for peoples health and welfare, there is no more destructive drug than alcohol, you very rarely see 'smoking' related cases in A and E, but sadly the genie is out of the bottle, and all we can look forward to now is chaos inthe hospitals, and streets that are even less safe to walk.
Britain's binge drinking culture is just like America's gun culture it exists because it is such a huge part of our history. The PUB (Public House) originally existed so people didn't have to drink disease ridden water centurys ago just like the first Americans (or American white europeans) had to have guns in order to protect their land and property themselves because of the total lack of law and order infrastructure in the colonies. History often isn't good or sweet and neither is alcohol or guns but they were vital in forming nations.
What an idiotic thing to say, nobody should expect this to be a quick fix, changing a culture is a long term prospect, in about 5 to 10 years there will be a noticable shift. This may be a controversial move but in time it will deliver results.
Yet another crackpot idea and about as useful as "taking yobs to cashpoints" which never worked either. The only answer to binge drinking is either to restrict drinking hours or make booze too expensive for binge drinkers.
Reader views (7)
- Rob, Los Angeles, California
When 24 hours licensing was introduced I understood and expected it would take probably 5 years for these changes to take effect on the public.
As a police officer I am regularly confronted with people consuming excess alcohol. Though I believe in the relatively short time that 24 hour drinking has been possible that binge drinking is slowly reducing. Also, let's not forget that only a relatively small number of establishments have actually taken the option to extend their serving hours with many having the license to remain open longer often opting not to make use of it.
Binge drinking has been a British 'habbit', part of the culture for many years. We can't expect a population to adjust to new ways of living overnight or in just over a year in this matter.
- Johan Vanlook, London, UK
- George Turner, Chester UK
Well done New Labour on your in depth research before introducing this new rule.
- Howard, Cheshire
- Lincoln Hudson, Las Vegas, United States.
If this 'minister' truly thought that results would be found within a year, they should be seeking new employment - which involves no strategy or planning.
Stop beliting the people who employ you, your not better than anybody else, so why act in such a offensive and stupid capacity.
Should be forced to resign for offensive comments and idiotic planning.
- Chris, Ealing
- Fred, Worcester, UK
Add your comment
