Only one in 20 believe 24-hours drinking has curbed loutishness

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More than nine out of ten adults said the controversial liberalisation had either made yobbish behaviour worse, or no better.

Only 4 per cent - less than one in 20 - said it had reduced loutishness.

Most people believe 24-hour drinking has made yobbish behaviour worse

The ICM survey - which also found a majority were in favour of raising the age limit for buying alcohol to 21 - follows overwhelming public anxiety about the availability and cheapness of alcohol.

Tessa Jowell, then the culture secretary, had said the law change would "improve quality of life and curb crime".

But a total of 42 per cent of those questioned said allowing pubs, clubs and supermarkets to open round-the-clock had increased anti-social behaviour.

A further 49 per cent said it had remained the same.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who has promised a review of the law, will find himself under increased pressure to make significant changes to the licensing regime.

Of the 1,000 people questioned for Channel 4 News, 42 per cent said they were already convinced that 24-drinking should be abolished.

Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said last night: "Labour's policies have not only failed to combat the scourge of violent crime - in many cases they have contributed to an increase in violent crime.

"This is yet more evidence that they should have listened to our call to pilot 24-hour drinking in order to assess its consequences so that it could then be rolled out appropriately and at local discretion.

"Instead they recklessly unleashed it and all its consequences on our towns and communities."

The survey was carried out in response to the suggestion that the age limit for buying alcohol should be increased by three years.

The poll found 52 per cent backed an increase to 21. Support wa s strongest among women, with 56 per cent in favour.

However, 55 per cent said they did not think the Government should increase the level of tax on alcoholic drinks.

A Home Office spokesman said: "There are no current plans to raise the minimum drinking age. We are taking forward a raft of measures to tackle drinking among young people."