Methodist Church tells Government to revisit alcohol licensing laws

The Methodist Church has appealed to the Government to revisit 24-hour licensing laws in light of what it calls Britain's "significant" binge drinking problem.

A report in The Times on Wednesday that Prime Minister Gordon Brown was to keep the present licensing laws was later refuted by Downing Street as "premature".

No 10 reaffirmed that the reviews of the licensing laws announced by Brown five months ago were not due to conclude until February.

The Methodist Church's Coordinating Secretary for Public Life and Social Justice, Anthea Cox, said: "Christmas and New Year are a time when many people want to celebrate, and the majority drink sensibly.

"But the last two weeks have shown that we have a significant problem with binge drinking and this has lead again to trouble for some drinkers and a rise in crime and casualty treatments.

"We call on the Government to revisit licensing as well as encouraging initiatives that support people in responsible drinking and seeking alternatives to alcohol."

Laws came into force in 2005 allowing pubs to apply for permission to open their doors for up to 24 hours a day, regarded by supporters at the time as one way to cut binge drinking and alcohol-fuelled disorder associated with traditional closing times.

Critics, however, believe that 24-hour licensing has done nothing to stem Britain's binge drinking culture, and has even fuelled it.

While Brown has previously expressed concern over certain premises opening for 24 hours to sell alcohol, such as supermarkets and off licenses, a Downing Street source was quoted by the BBC as saying, "Nobody has ever said we are looking to end 24 hour drinking."