New UK 24 hour drink licence laws

[meglamaniac]

There was an interview about this on Channel 4 News about 10 minutes ago, with Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell.
Asked if there was a danger, due to the likelyhood of staggered opening hours, of people going from one establishment to another getting more and more drunk, she replied:
The new licencing laws will have provisions to stop drink being sold to people who are drunk.



What?!
a) So that rules out most of the customers then?
b) Define "drunk" please.
c) Are you out of your mind, you stupid woman?

Lets face it, the whole 24 hour idea is a shit one to start with when the police can't control things as they are, and now they've got a muppet drafting the legislation.
Great.

[JammyJim]

its already illegal to sell alchol to someone intoxicated.


theres no change to the law then?

[Ste]

Actually I think it's a good idea.
Peter Stringfellow *shudder* was making good points on the politics review last night.
1) 24 hour drinking isn't going to happen - all it means is that clubs/pubs/bars can apply for licenses for later.
2) Very few people are actually going to stay out until 5 or 6 in the morning. And anyway - by that time everyone's too knackered to cause problems.
3) It's very annoying leaving a cinema or a restaraunt at 11 and having nowhere to go for a quiet drink.
4) It will cause problems initially as we are still entrenched in binge drinking culture but after 5 years or so the new generation will be around and then we will start seeing the benefits.

I reckon it does need extra legislation on serving drunk people and the amount of bars allowed to open in certain areas as well as careful licensing agreements.

[Dante Hicks]

I'm fully in favour.

A) I don't like arbritrary restrictions on when people can serve alcohol
B) It stops people all leaving at the same / similar time. If you compare clubs which close at 2am to clubs which close at 6am there is generally a lot less trouble (and it's less congested etc) at the latter. People drift away when they want to go home rather than all staying until the end.

Of course, if they really want to reduce trouble they'd legalise the sale of E. I've never seen a group of pill heads cause trouble when out on my travels.

[Dante Hicks]

Tessa Jowell is my MP.

While I agree with this policy she is indeed an idiot.

[meglamaniac]

Originally Posted by JammyJim

its already illegal to sell alchol to someone intoxicated.


theres no change to the law then?

Intoxicated is (to my mind) more serious than drunk. Intoxicated implies staggering-across-the-room-can-barely-stand-up drunk, and obviously anyone in that state arriving at the bar is not going to get served; more likely they'll be escorted out.

It's just the way she said "people who are drunk" that sounds so rediculous, as it implies a much lower level of alcohol intake and she gave no clarification. Not exactly the best PR stunt for already controversial legislation.
You can be drunk and know it - and still be coherant enough to get served at the bar, although granted you may find the need to lean on it.

On top of that, the original line of questioning was to do with police workload, and that solves none of the issues.
Assuming she was just talking out of her arse and we're actually sticking to current guidlines, then anyone being refused service is already in such a state the police no doubt find them causing aggro/pissing down a shop window/chucking up in the street and have to administer the £80 fine etc.
Assuming she wasn't talking out of her arse and they really do intend to introduce stricter service guidelines, the bar managers will be up in arms, as will the punters.

So how exactly she thought she was helping the discussion, I don't know.

[G.K Zhukov]

Originally Posted by Ste

2) Very few people are actually going to stay out until 5 or 6 in the morning. And anyway - by that time everyone's too knackered to cause problems.

Eh, no. You obviously havent been to Norway man. You british weaklings might go to bed before 5 though

3) It's very annoying leaving a cinema or a restaraunt at 11 and having nowhere to go for a quiet drink.

Cry me a river.

4) It will cause problems initially as we are still entrenched in binge drinking culture but after 5 years or so the new generation will be around and then we will start seeing the benefits.

I think your an optimist, becouse my experience tells me that people dont learn from their mistakes when their out binge drinking.

[JonnyBGood]

Originally Posted by G.K Zhukov

I think your an optimist, becouse my experience tells me that people dont learn from their mistakes when their out binge drinking.

Seriously? Nearly everyone I know has learned from their mistakes when they're out binge drinking. As a matter of fact I know of only one guy who still does the same appalling shit that he did when we were 16.

[I am Idler]

Originally Posted by JammyJim

its already illegal to sell alchol to someone intoxicated.


theres no change to the law then?

visibly intoxiated

[Phang]

Originally Posted by meglamaniac

Intoxicated is (to my mind) more serious than drunk.

Er, what? Drunk means physical or mental impairment. Intoxicated merely means that your behaviour is slightly altered. I don't know about you, but my demeanor loosens a bit before I'm collapsing into tables and can't stand up.

[Ste]

Originally Posted by G.K Zhukov

Eh, no. You obviously havent been to Norway man. You british weaklings might go to bed before 5 though

Well, seeing as we're talking about Britain then: Eh, Yes.
Clubs that I've been to that have a license until 3 and stay open later generally seem to start emptying around 2. People get tired, or bored, or pull, and go home to bed..

Cry me a river.

What an insightful comment.

I think your an optimist, becouse my experience tells me that people dont learn from their mistakes when their out binge drinking.

As people get older they go out on the piss less. The current binge drinkers will get old and stop and the new generation will grow up in a different atmosphere where they can drink for as long as they want without being chucked out at 11.

[G.K Zhukov]

Originally Posted by JonnyBGood

Seriously? Nearly everyone I know has learned from their mistakes when they're out binge drinking. As a matter of fact I know of only one guy who still does the same appalling shit that he did when we were 16.

Most moderate themselfs some, but still do mistakes, atleast it seems so.
Norway have got the binge drinking culture for centuries.

[pig]

if 24 hr drinking was introduced it would stop binge drinking, binge drinking occurs because of the time limit we have on ourselves, yes ppl will still binge drink, but soon ppl will drink like they do on the continent which is sit on a bar/pub until 2am drink a bottle or two of wine, then go to a club for some shots and dance the night out, by the time they come out they will be so tired they wudnt cause trouble and wud jus go straight to sleep rather than que for hours for a kebab.

[Yahwe]

the present law is that the licence holder and through him his staff can refuse to serve alcohol to someone they believe to be intoxicated or drunk.
its totally at their discretion.

it stems from the tradition of the public house, here you are literally stepping into someone's home. the publican can refuse to serve you for any reason and can ask you to leave just because he doesn't like you.

[Hicks]

Originally Posted by pig

if 24 hr drinking was introduced it would stop binge drinking, binge drinking occurs because of the time limit we have on ourselves, yes ppl will still binge drink, but soon ppl will drink like they do on the continent which is sit on a bar/pub until 2am drink a bottle or two of wine, then go to a club for some shots and dance the night out, by the time they come out they will be so tired they wudnt cause trouble and wud jus go straight to sleep rather than que for hours for a kebab.

That sounds such a faggy night out, no wonder the Europeans are such a bunch of queers.

[KoeN]

does this mean the next time i visit the UK i can do a proper night out and not be kicked out at 1am already?

[Yahwe]

Originally Posted by KoeN

does this mean the next time i visit the UK i can do a proper night out and not be kicked out at 1am already?

not you no.

[Yahwe]

on a sad note i can already drink for 24 hours, you just have to change venue.

the new licensing will stop all the fun of working out where to go and the immense pleasure one gets from saying "i know a little place..." after somewhere has closed.

[Recon]

Originally Posted by Yahwe

on a sad note i can already drink for 24 hours, you just have to change venue.

the new licensing will stop all the fun of working out where to go and the immense pleasure one gets from saying "i know a little place..." after somewhere has closed.

is entirely true, only true drinkers 'know' places where after hours activities happens, if your a crap drinker you stop at 3am...

[Nodrog]

Originally Posted by Yahwe

The publican can refuse to serve you for any reason and can ask you to leave just because he doesn't like you.

If you're suggesting that this is how things currently stand, rather than traditionally, then this is incorrect (although it should be the case).

[Stew]

Originally Posted by Nodrog

If you're suggesting that this is how things currently stand, rather than traditionally, then this is incorrect (although it should be the case).

What if there's a sign saying "The management reserves the right to refuse admission and/or service" ?

[Yahwe]

Originally Posted by Nodrog

If you're suggesting that this is how things currently stand, rather than traditionally, then this is incorrect (although it should be the case).

this is how things stand.

[Nodrog]

Originally Posted by Stew

What if there's a sign saying "The management reserves the right to refuse admission and/or service" ?

It would be utterly irrelevant and they would still be crucified in court if they refused to serve anyone on racial grounds (for example).

[Zword]

Originally Posted by I am Idler

visibly intoxiated

And maybe I just like to act like I am visibly intoxiated. If I had something to drink. Then what?

[Nodrog]

Originally Posted by Yahwe

this is how things stand.

Perhaps there's some precedent I'm unaware of, but the race relations act seems to make it pretty clear where people stand when it comes to denying goods and services based on race. I'd imagine there's similar laws for sexual "discrimination" and the like.

[Yahwe]

Originally Posted by Nodrog

Perhaps there's some precedent I'm unaware of, but the race relations act seems to make it pretty clear where people stand when it comes to denying goods and services based on race. I'd imagine there's similar laws for sexual "discrimination" and the like.

perhaps you should listen to what a lawyer tells you rather than argue without knowledge.

[Nodrog]

That doesn't sound like a particularly good idea.

[Phang]

Originally Posted by Yahwe

perhaps you should listen to what a lawyer tells you rather than argue without knowledge.

"Scenes You Seldom See"

[roadrunner_0]

its a good idea, and in most of the big cities now you dont even have to know what you are doing to be able to drink round the clock

[Dead_Meat]

24hr opening? What the hell are the factories going to do now? They'll be full of hungover drunks and we'll lose the war!

Originally Posted by Historical Information Time

"The First World War provided an opportunity to introduce the most stringent licensing restrictions yet, the Defence of the Realm Act (1914) closing pubs for several hours in the afternoon and at 11 at night. This was intended to ensure a sober and alert workforce for the duration of the war, particularly those in key industries. England remained in this astonishing state of vigilance for another 74 years, the licensed trade ordered 'at ease' in September 1988 amidst scenes of great jubilation and thanksgiving that the enemy had at last been placated."

[slick]

liscence idea is good.

end of story
Bye Bye

See Ya Later