Longer Licensing Hours a Legal Quagmire - Foster

3.47.33pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 7th Feb 2005

On the first day that applications can be made for the renewal or extension of pub and club licences, the Liberal Democrats have criticised the Government for mismanaging of the new rules.

Commenting, Bath's MP, Don Foster who is Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, said:

"The Government's stuttering approach to reforming licensing laws threatens to leave the police and Local Authorities in a legal quagmire.

"Councils up and down the country are rightly concerned that their powers are too weak to stand up to the drink industry.

"The cracks are already appearing in the Government's latest binge drinking clampdown, which is set to tackle pubs but bizarrely lets nightclubs off the hook.

"The tragedy is that properly managed, more flexible licensing hours could help reduce the problems caused by binge drinking and alcohol-related violence. But the Government's approach has been mismanaged from start to finish.

"Ministers should urgently consider delaying the implementation of these plans to allow police and Local Authorities more time to prepare."