Public backs levy on pubs and clubs to cover costs of late night boozing, says Alcohol Concern

Sunday 6th February 2005

67% of the public believes that pubs and clubs should contribute to any increases in the cost of late night policing and public transport provision that results from extended opening hours, according to a poll commissioned by Alcohol Concern.

The poll, carried out by YouGov earlier this week, showed that 39% of respondents also believed that drinkers should pay additional costs, with only 2% thinking that any additional costs should be born by council tax payers.

On the eve of the submission of the first applications for extended pub opening hours on Monday 7th February, the survey also reveals significant public concern about the potential local impact of late licensing.

Over half of respondents (51%) said that they believed that later licenses would lead to an increase in crime and other problems in their local area.


Commenting on these findings, Srabani Sen, Chief Executive of Alcohol Concern, said;

?These findings reveal that the public has significant misgivings about the impact that later licenses will have in our towns and cities.

?The extra policing, public transport and street cleaning needed for extended opening will have to be paid for by someone, and, despite the welcome increase in license fees, there is considerable doubt that local authorities and police will recover in full the additional costs that the new system will place on them. Inevitably, this will mean a lower quality of public services, or a higher tax burden on the council tax payer.

?As the public recognises, a fairer solution would be that the ?polluter pays?. Licensed premises that open later should pay extra for the privilege to cover the costs of policing and public transport. They might pass on some of this cost to drinkers through higher drink prices late at night, but this would also help curb late night excess and the violence and disorder that accompanies it.

?In order for the new licensing regime to work, there must come with it a new commitment that there should be no increased burden on public services as a result of alcohol. Any additional costs must be met by the alcohol industry and by the people who use its products, not by the taxpayer.?


ENDS

For more information please contact Anne Jenkins, Alcohol Concern press office on 020 7922 8662, Srabani Sen on 07802 790634 or Richard Phillips on 07939 575290.


Note to editors

Alcohol Concern is the national agency working to reduce alcohol related harm in society. We campaign for action on alcohol misuse, making recommendations to key policy makers and professionals. We also help develop the level and quality of alcohol services available to problem drinkers and their families. www.alcoholconcern.org.uk

YouGov carried out the poll over the internet using a sample size of 1971 people, between 1st February and 3rd February 2005. http://www.yougov.com/

Date: 06 February 2005