Ministers 'hiding fallout from 24-hour drink laws'

A review of the Licensing Act claims that round-the-clock drinking has worked well in most areas. The report also says that overall crime has fallen by one per cent and violent crime has dropped by 10 per cent since the changes were introduced in 2005.

But the Conservatives accused the Government of putting a gloss on the figures. Shadow Home Office minister Damian Green said there was evidence 24-hour drinking had resulted in more violence, increased crime and a greater strain on the police.

The Tories said that since the licensing laws were changed more than a million people had been victims of alcohol-related attacks, while alcoholrelated admissions to hospitals had risen by 17 per cent.

"This Government has form with playing fast and loose with the figures,"-said a Conservative Party spokesman. The Government admits the changes have created a few problem areas but it has decided against reversing the 24-hour laws.

The review by the Home Office and a separate study by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport gives the policy "seven marks out of 10" with " excellent" in most areas.

The Government is recommending action against underage drinkers and giving the police more powers to tackle the surge in violence between 3am and 6am. This could see the police banning all licence holders in areas where there is evidence that drinking has contributed to anti-social behaviour.

Home Office figures show a 22 per cent increase in all offences committed between 3am and 6am in the year since the new laws came in. There was a 25 per cent increase in the most serious violent crimes between 3am and 6am, according to a Home Office report last July.

Other measures promised by the Government include:

A yellow and red card system for pubs and clubs. Those who break their licence will be given a first warning but closed for a second offence.

Raising the fine for drinking in a public area from £500 to £2,500.

Two-strikes-and-out rule for offlicences selling to underage drinkers.

Gordon Brown has said binge drinking is not "acceptable in any society". He also indicated that today's reviews are not the last word on the matter.

But Labour faces criticism that it has failed to implement other measures.

The Evening Standard revealed yesterday that plans for alcohol disorder zones where the police can ban drinking have yet to be introduced three years after they were first announced.

Chris Huhne, the Liberal Democrats' home affairs spokesman, said: "The basic problem is not that we need new powers and penalties, it's that we need to enforce the law that we've already got." Government figures published in November suggested 500 pubs and clubs had been granted 24-hour licences.

Meanwhile, the man charged with leading the Home Office review of 24-hour drinking has boasted of his predilection for cocktails and late bars.

Dr Ziggy Macdonald listed his interests as "Sweet Manhattans" and "London's Sanderson Long Bar" on a social networking site. The comments by Dr Macdonald, the Home Office's head of alcohol and anti-social behaviour, have since been removed from Friends Reunited.