New Licensing Laws – What have been your experiences?
Posted by Phyllis Starkey, MP for Milton Keynes South West, at 11:20, Fri 6 January 2006:
Hello and Happy New Year!
I look forward to making use of this new system as it has the potential to be a fantastic way to extend my dialogue with the people I represent. It should also strengthen democracy by encouraging greater involvement in politics. The value of the dialogue will depend on how many people are going to get involved, so please encourage family and friends to sign up.
For this first email I want to ask your views on the new licensing laws that came into effect in November last year. They have extended drinking hours and also given the Council, the police and the public more powers to tackle alcohol-related anti-social behaviour. It is much easier now for the Police to close bars and venues that are causing problems, and residents can ask for licenses to be reviewed where there is evidence of nuisance. But the flexible hours have given greater choice for consumers.
I would like to know what your experiences of these new arrangements has been. Have there been any changes in your local area as a result of the new laws, and if there has been alcohol-related anti-social behaviour have you been able to work towards resolving the problems?
Comments
Commenting on this message is now disabled.
Posted by john_goss@hotmail.com, 12:54, Fri 6 January 2006: (Is this post abusive?) #
I think the change in licensing laws was a good idea, and was very supportive of it as it went through Parliament.
By allowing venues to extend their opening times from 11pm and beyond, I believe that people can enjoy themselves in a more relaxed environment - and don't feel the need to rush their drinking.
There is also the advantage that if venues have staggered closing times, there's no longer that mass 'kick-out' of pubs/clubs at weekends at 2am.
Anti-social behaviour is always an issue where Alcohol is concerned, although I think this will calm down as people start to understand more relaxed drinking times - as opposed to the binge drinking that was going on - as people only had a short time to enjoy themslves.
Hand in hand with this - the police do need extra powers to come down hard on those who abuse such privileges, and those who cause a disturbance.
For the safety of everyone that goes out drinking, I think it would also be a good idea for local bodies (and pubs/clubs) to work to have licensed taxi ranks nearby.
This then ensures that people can get home safely, the need to illegal cabs is lessened and it creates a better environment - with less worry of how people need to get home after going out.
Posted by Alan Palmer, 19:53, Fri 6 January 2006: (Is this post abusive?) #
As a person who has had liver problems thrust upon me by the incompetance of the blood transusion service I would like to know what you have to say, especially as you are a doctor, regarding the report in the Independent today, that states: "According to the report, deaths from liver cirrhosis are rising faster in Britain than anywhere else in Europe. The rise has been especially sharp in men and women aged under 45, where death rates now exceed the European average." http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/article336782.ece
But I guess you can just fix the problems that you are creating to keep the public docile, by spending some more taxpayer's money on the deteriorating health service, instead of wasting it on bombs and cruise missiles and looking for imaginary weapons of mass destruction in Iraq