§ 81. Colonel Burtonasked the Home Secretary the number of unlicensed clubs known as bottle parties where intoxicating liquors are sold and consumed during non-licensing hours situated in the Metropolitan Police area; whether such establishments are subjected to police supervision; and how many are owned and/or managed by aliens?
§ Mr. PeakeIn the Metropolitan Police District there are known to be at present 27 establishments known as "bottle parties" in which intoxicating liquor is consumed on the premises outside the permitted hours for clubs and licensed premises. The police have no power to supervise the conduct of these establishments, which purport to be private parties, but they take proceedings against the principals whenever evidence is available that intoxicating liquor is being sold on the premises or that other offences against the licensing laws or the laws relating to public music and dancing, etc., are being committed, and they co-operate with the Excise authorities in proceedings 720 in respect of any revenue offences committed in connection with these establishments. The police have no knowledge that any of these establishments is owned and/or managed by an alien.
Viscountess AstorWould it not be good if the House of Commons set an example by closing its own bars at a definite hour?