News Release

20th January 2005

24 HOUR DRINKING

At a meeting with police officers last Monday in Lichfield, Michael Fabricant was told that extra police officers would be needed to patrol streets if drink laws in Lichfield and Burntwood were extended. And tonight, Britain's top policeman says plans for 24-hour drinking should be re-examined because of a binge drinking "epidemic".

Metropolitan police chief Sir John Stevens has called for a rethink as the government prepares to publish the amount councils can charge to process licenses. He told the London Evening Standard: "There has been a major trend towards drunken, loutish behaviour: assaults on police are up 40%. It's not just London - it's nationwide. I feel now that we should just slow down a little on this proposal ... let's have another look at what all-hours drinking could mean."

And Michael Fabricant says: "I agree. Like it or not, the Brits are not like the Italians or French. A number of us get aggressive and disorderly after a few drinks. Many disorder problems in the West Midlands are drink related and are likely to get worse if licensing hours are extended. Many local councillors have told me that they may have no choice in the matter and that they fear prosecution from large pub chains if they don't allow extended drinking hours. That can't be right.