§ Lord Lucasasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider that extended drinking hours on licensed premises will increase or decrease alcohol-related crime. [HL2974]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bassam of Brighton)Our views on this issue are set out clearly in the White PaperTime for Reform: Proposals for the Modernisation of Our Licensing Laws, published on 10 April this year. We do 95WA not believe that all licensed premises should enjoy later closing times, particularly where this would lead to excessive disturbance to local residents. However, where this can be avoided, extended hours should help ensure that customers leave venues gradually over a longer period and so reduce binge drinking and public order problems arising from large numbers of people arriving on the streets simultaneously. We therefore believe that the scheme described in the White Paper would help to deliver reductions in reports of drink-related offences and in arrests for such offences.