General Chat

in my local paper today it said that the goverment are considering allowing pubs to open 24hrs a day.this is fine i hear you say but the paper has stated that council tax could be put up further due toservices which will be needed to allow this to happen.more police,council workers to clean up the crap that would be ;eft by revellers that's just the start.vandelism by people who have had too much to drink and find that the highlight to their night is to wreck something.hospitals overcrowed with people who have overdone it on the booze .i disagree with this as the N.H.S is overstreched as it is.the police should be dealing with real crimes rather than people been arrested for drink related crime .and as for the cost of cleaning the streets that should be down to the pub and club owners not the taxpayers.xx(:

Quite agree with your feelings, but since when do the "people" count these days?? as long as we pays our money, "they" just don`t care!!

i think it will affect family life .with partners being down the pub for longer.also will put a strain on the N.H.S and AA.i think it's a ticking timebomb for drink related illnesses.all come down to how much money they can make.but there againwe will be the ones that fork out for the disasters that lay ahead.through our taxes!XX(:

I don't think the problem lies with 24hr opening - it's our 'neck it as fast as you can' culture that needs to change. After all, they don't feel the need on the Continent to get rat a***d to have a good time. If they do have problems - it's generally caused by holidaying Brits. I think I'm right in saying that restricted opening hours were only introduced in this country during WW1. It would be interesting to see what the problems with anti social behaviour were prior to that when an open all hours policy was in force. Magsx

Why has no one considered the bar staff who will have to work all these extra hours? As an ex barmaid (don't like that word) I know that staff will be pressurised into working, worse still will be managed houses where the managers will probably have to do the extra themselves, with no extra pay. They wont be allowed to set on extra staff as they have to only pay out a certain percentage of takings in staff wages. Then they still have to be there during the day to "manage". Margaret

I am in favour of pubs being allowed to open 24 hours. This does not mean they will just that they can. If there are no customers they will shut. If they are full they may stay open. However, a far stricter leicencing structure will have to be in force. Local councils allowing opening in there areas if they so desire and closing those that attract problems. I see no problem with quiet drinking and then going home. If there are fights then close the pubs. (thought - this should go for football clubs as well). How often have you missed the last bell and would have liked one more or bought two at the bell to keep you going. Both of these situations would pass. The owner would just say 'would you like another before I close' as happes on the continet. Bob

We used to live next door to a pub and most of the time it was fine but i wouldn't have wanted it 24/7

sorry lisa, i know we're message buddies but i have to disagree with you. i agree with nichola for all the reasons she said. also, its not ALL pubs, its the ones in city centres and even then its their choice. i cant see the local in a village opening all night, it just isnt practical because of neighbours and the fact that most village pubs have accommodation upstairs. as far as alchohol abuse goes, that will happen for as long as it gets sold in shops across the land and it doesnt matter how many hours a pub is open for, if someone wants to get wasted, they just will. only they'll do it in the streets or at home. i do feel for the people who live near the town centres mind you, but then again it might stop huge gangs of louts going past the house all at once at kick out time. thats my views anyway xxx

hi paul how are you.as you know i live in portsmouth which has commercial road as their city centre.lets take for example weekends.these people drink for just6 hours after work get change go out go clubbing.you would not believe the amount of trouble that we get just in one night.stabbings rape and assults are just afew and all are drink related as reported in our local paper.yes the bar staff would be over worked but so would the police trying to break up fights and dealing with people being seriously assulted.also the hospitals would be overstreched dealing with drunks rather than the genuinly ill people.the n.h.s have problems already with lack of hospital beds for the sick and this will get worse if this is allowed to happen.the pubs open from 11.00a.m till.11.00pm don't you think that's enough.i think that this will effect family life for some as i know you'll disagree but the migority of men will be spending more time in the pub then at home with the partner and children.xxxxx(:

lisa i have to admit i have always lived in quite quiet places compared to what you described. i take the attitude of the guy before who said theres times when you want just one more at 11. i think landlords or managers should be responsible enough to refuse drunks. that might sort some of it xxx

paul i think you will get some men who will take the offer up of 24 hr drinking.is it really necessary though?keep some tinnies back at home and have a drink at home after 11 with your ladyxxxx(:

In my opinion the pubs are open far too long as it is.The effect pubs have on family life is terrible,the poor suffering children is what I see a lot.No money to buy kids clothes,holidays or after school activities but always plenty to go to the pub.If the government are as concerned about families as they say they are they should do something about it.Also,just about every corner shop sells booze now so I don't suppose people have to even go to the pub.Talking to friends who work in the hospitals,they're fuming about heavy drinkers/alcoholics who stay in hospital until their houses are cleaned up,new carpets and furniture put in,then they just go home and do the same. Although me and hubby don't drink I appreciate that many people are sensible drinkers and don't let it ruin their lives or other peoples.It's just that many just drink more and more and are encouraged by the pub culture that we live in. Wendy

thats what will happen.there quite happily p**s it up and forget about the money for food clothes and other thingsxxx(:

I work in a bar at the moment, and help with the running of the business. At the moment the business committee are considering the 24 hour rule for the club. In October or November a new rule comes into effect about the licensing laws, where a lot of things change. At the moment when off licences/pubs/club etc apply for their license to sell alcohol, they state there hours of opening. When the new rule comes into affect, if you put that you sell alcohol from the hours of 7pm to 11pm, that is what you sell it from. If you open your doors at 6.59pm you will be fined. If you sell beer after 11 you will be fined. that is if you are caught. More patrols will be taking place from the effect of the new rule, to catch people out. This is where the 24hr rule comes in. If you say that you are open 24 hrs, than you can in effect sell alcohol 24hrs, but if you only want to sell it between 7pm and 11pm, than that is the individuals choice. The license holder can open and close at whatever time they choose. If you put that you are open 24hrs it isn't compulsory to open the full 24hrs. I hope that makes sense With the new rule, the cost of licenses go up. So that each place pays the same. From the little corner shop that sells beer to supermarkets, pubs and nightclubs. For a lot of places this is going to be a lot. In a way i think that the government are trying to put small businesses out of work. I think that the new license cost around the region of £1000, but I am not quite sure. Gem

that would be unfair as the nightclub would bring in more money than the corner shopxxx(: