The normalisation of a psychoactive,addictive substance, and an all-night extension for crime and disorder – the Licensing Act of 2003 has a lot to reply forDrivers of cultural change can be pretty difficult to pin down, and but it’s secure to say that Labour’s ambition to create a “continental cafe style of drinking culture” through the introduction of 24-hour licensing has failed,and was unlikely to ever succeed.
When the Licensing Act of 2003 first went through parliament no one was really talking approximately a European drinking culture or 24-hour opening – in fact there was little press comment. This changed after the bill had passed, when statistics showed British young people were among the worst binge drinkers in Europe, and concerns approximately “Boozy Britain” dominated the coverage.
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Source: theguardian.com