HC Deb 25 March 1908 vol 186 cc1406-7
CAPTAIN FABER

I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, under the proposed new Licensing Act, any person found the worse for drink in a club will be summoned before a bench of magistrates, as at present happens to those found the worse for drink on licensed premises.

MR. GLADSTONE

My right hon. friend has asked me to answer this Question. It is not a criminal offence under the existing law for a person to be drunk in a club, and the Licensing Bill makes no alteration in this respect.

CAPTAIN FABER

As a person may be drunk in a club and not in a public-house, is one inspector in plain clothes to do the work of a district where forty or fifty police now are entering public-houses?

*MR. SPEAKER

That question should he raised on the Bill.

EARL WINTERTON

asked whether under the Bill a plain-clothes inspector would be instructed to report in case of drunkenness?

MR. GLADSTONE

When the Bill is passed I will be very glad to answer that Question.

CAPTAIN FABER

Will the plain clothes gentlemen have to wake up unoffending persons in arm chairs?

*MR. SPEAKER

That Question should be raised on the Bill.