THE Government argues that the deregulation of licensing laws, which will take effect next year, will lead to Britain's alcohol problem getting better.
The proposals will allow pubs and bars to stay open longer and could mean 24-hour drinking in some places. But many senior police officers, including Chief Inspector Steve Littlejohn, say that changing a binge drinking culture cannot happen overnight.
In the updated Licensing Act 2003, local authorities will get the discretion to apply flexible opening hours, removing the power from magistrates who have been responsible for liquor licensing for 600 years.
David Whitehead, interim chief executive at Warrington Borough Council, said: "I am inviting all partners, including the licensed trade, to form a working group to consider how we can implement the national alcohol harm reduction strategy in Warrington."
See next week's Warrington Guardian for more on this issue.
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