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Licensing reform to be shelved?
by Christine Cryne
Rumours are abounding that the Government might be putting licensing reform on the back burner. Despite a white paper on the subject before the election there was no mention of reform in Queen's speech in June.
CAMRA wants to see this back on the Government's agenda. England's licensing laws still lag behind those elsewhere in the world and what other capital city has laws that prevent bars opening after 11pm? England has been very slow to change. It was only in the late 1980s that all day licensing came in; before then bars had to close in the afternoon.
What CAMRA is campaigning for is the ability for a pub to open when it makes sense for it to do so. This should mean the ability to have a pint or two after going to the theatre or cinema in the evening rather than the current dash to get a pint in before the pubs close.
CAMRA spokesman, Mike Benner, said "It is important that people understand that reform will not lead for a free-for-all. Under the Government's plans, pubs will not be allowed to open 24 hours a day when they feel like it. Rather each pub will have to seek agreement for its opening hours as part of a business plan. Most pubs will probably only apply for an extra hour or two at weekends and residents and the police will have a say in all applications".
A survey conducted last year for CAMRA showed that over 69% of Londoners are in favour of a more relaxed approach to pub opening. So why aren't the Government in any rush to make the changes? Perhaps it may have something to do with the fact that MPs can get a drink any time they choose because the bars in the Houses of Parliament are open 24 hours a day. If they can be trusted with extended licensing hours is it not about time that they treated the rest of us like adults as well?
Christine Cryne
Reproduced from the Full Pint, Issue 11.
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