Pub beer takeaways a ‘recipe for violence’
Peers warn ministers that relaxation of licensing laws in wake of lockdown will lead to disorder
PLANS to allow late-night pubs and bars to sell takeaway alcohol will spark street violence, disorder and drunkenness, ministers have been warned.
The Government faced criticism from senior politicians and policing chiefs last night over plans in the Business and Planning Bill to relax licensing rules to boost the hospitality sector.
The proposals would see rules relaxed for a year, freeing pubs and bars currently prevented from doing so to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises even if their licence extends into the early hours.
Lord Blunkett, the former home secretary, warned the measure would do nothing “other than fuel already worrying concerns about activity late at night, particularly in the major cities”.
Lord Paddick, the former Met Police deputy commissioner, said an “unintended consequence” would be to allow those who had already drunk enough, to buy even more alcohol to consume in the street “with the potential for disorder and disruption to local residents”.
People in the streets with a container of alcohol was “a recipe for disorder and potential violence”, he claimed.
Lord Paddick said: “If revellers in such locations are allowed to buy alcohol to take away when these late-night premises are about to close, there is a real danger the disorder we have seen recently in which many police officers have been injured could increase.
“If they are allowed to take alcohol with them when they leave when the party closes inside these late-licensed premises, they are likely to continue the party outside on the street.”
The weekend’s reopening of pubs after lockdown, on so-called Super Saturday, led to streets packed with people drinking well into the early hours.
One senior officer said the scenes risked sparking a potential second wave of coronavirus as it was “crystal clear” that drunk people were incapable of keeping a social distance.
In some cities there were illegal raves and block parties. At illegal street parties in London, officers were attacked with bottles, assaulted and threatened as they tried to break them up.
Dame Cressida Dick, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, revealed last month that 140 officers had been hurt in the violence over the previous three weeks.
Ken Marsh, chairman of the Met Police Federation, said the Government’s legislation appeared “ill-thought-out,” warning that relaxing rules on off-sales could fuel violence.
Conservative peers urged the Government to restrict off-sales from licensed premises to ensure alcohol was not available in open containers and that sales were limited to normal licensing hours.
Lord Randall of Uxbridge said: “I worry that this will encourage drinking in the street into the early hours. I fear that that would increase anti-social behaviour.
“The images from the weekend give me real concern. Sadly, drunken and anti-social behaviour is not unusual in some city centres.”
Lord Greenhalgh, the communities and Home Office minister who opened the second reading of the plans in the Lords, said the Government recognised the need to “strike a balance between supporting businesses and ensuring safety and amenity for our communities”.
A local review could be triggered leading to off-sales permission being suspended or withdrawn if there were problems.
The legislation also sought to reduce the planning appeal process from a year to six months; extend the hours construction sites can operate to stagger working times; and allow bus and lorry drivers to extend their driving licences for a year without the requirement for a medical review to free up more time for GPS to deal with Covid-19.