An explosion in the number of late-opening supermarkets and bars has left ‘binge Britain’ with the largest number of premises licensed to sell alcohol.
There are now 166,000 venues allowed to sell drink, many open long beyond the traditional 11pm closing time.
It is the equivalent of one licensed outlet for every 280 adults in England and Wales.
Police have blamed late-opening bars, corner shops and supermarkets for the rowdy behaviour and violence blighting the nation’s streets.
Drink up: The number of licenced premises, including pubs, clubs and off-licences, has now hit 202,000
At the same time, there are around 30 traditional pubs closing every week.
Critics said Labour’s 24-hour drinking laws – which were supposed to introduce a continental-style ‘cafe culture’ – had sounded the death knell for the pub. Instead, drinkers are consuming cheap supermarket alcohol – often sold at a loss – at home or on street corners.
1 Oct 2010
Number of licensed premises at record high as traditional pubs shut down | Mail Online
via dailymail.co.uk
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