Introducing 24-hour drinking laws has not created a café culture but stretched police resources, local government leaders have claimed.
The Local Government Association said the change in the law had been a ‘catastrophic mistake’, which had created no-go areas and fuelled drink-related violence.
Sir Simon Milton, chairman of the LGA, said: ‘The real problem about alcohol violence going later into the night is not simply to do with the clock.
‘First of all if you are a resident who's disturbed at night and it's three o'clock in the morning, your chances of getting back to sleep after that are much less. But also policing resources are being stretched further into the night.’
The LGA has called on the Government to give powers to local authorities to block licence applications, increase the cost of alcohol and levy licensees.
Sir Simon claimed licensing laws had been the sole weapon for local authorities to tackle late-night anti-social behaviour and there is no replacement.
‘When we moved to the new act the nightclubs who used to pay thousands of pounds for their fees had them cut dramatically. So the biggest premises causing the most trouble have seen their fees reduced,’ he said.
He also claimed the vision of a café society put forward by then-culture secretary Tessa Jowell had failed to materialise: ‘It was sold on a clear bill that this act was intended to change Britain's drinking culture by turning us from a nation of binge drinkers into a continental café culture. On its own terms it has failed miserably.’
Sir Simon, whose own City of Westminster authority contains dozens of late-night venues, said the police were now fighting a grim battle with stretched resources.
His comments followed the LGA’s submission to the Government’s revue of drinking laws, which was voiced strong opposition to the reforms.
Sir Simon said a typical town centre was now a no-go area: ‘It is a place for younger people who will act in a manner which ranges from boisterous to outright violent. It's a place to avoid for anyone who doesn't fit into that category.’
The Local Government Association said the change in the law had been a ‘catastrophic mistake’, which had created no-go areas and fuelled drink-related violence.
Sir Simon Milton, chairman of the LGA, said: ‘The real problem about alcohol violence going later into the night is not simply to do with the clock.
‘First of all if you are a resident who's disturbed at night and it's three o'clock in the morning, your chances of getting back to sleep after that are much less. But also policing resources are being stretched further into the night.’
The LGA has called on the Government to give powers to local authorities to block licence applications, increase the cost of alcohol and levy licensees.
Sir Simon claimed licensing laws had been the sole weapon for local authorities to tackle late-night anti-social behaviour and there is no replacement.
‘When we moved to the new act the nightclubs who used to pay thousands of pounds for their fees had them cut dramatically. So the biggest premises causing the most trouble have seen their fees reduced,’ he said.
He also claimed the vision of a café society put forward by then-culture secretary Tessa Jowell had failed to materialise: ‘It was sold on a clear bill that this act was intended to change Britain's drinking culture by turning us from a nation of binge drinkers into a continental café culture. On its own terms it has failed miserably.’
Sir Simon, whose own City of Westminster authority contains dozens of late-night venues, said the police were now fighting a grim battle with stretched resources.
His comments followed the LGA’s submission to the Government’s revue of drinking laws, which was voiced strong opposition to the reforms.
Sir Simon said a typical town centre was now a no-go area: ‘It is a place for younger people who will act in a manner which ranges from boisterous to outright violent. It's a place to avoid for anyone who doesn't fit into that category.’
