The government has announced plans to introduce a new “yellow card and red card” alert scheme for licensed premises that are found to be in breach of licensing laws.
The new system, which is one of the government’s proposed measures to tackle excessive drinking, will see offending pubs and clubs given a warning before having their licences withdrawn.
As part of a further crackdown, following the Home Office’s publication of the review of the Licensing Act, off and on-trade premises caught selling to under-18s will also be hit with a “two strikes and you’re out” offence, thereby losing their licence if caught twice in three months.
Pubs could also face possible opening restrictions between 3am and 6am in some areas, as well more instant closures in the case of violent disorder.
Other measures outlined by Andy Burnham, the culture secretary, included increasing fines for people disobeying instructions to stop drinking in public places to £2,500, as well as more powers for police to disperse anti-social drinkers.
The government has, however, confirmed that it would not reverse the 24-hour licensing laws, as it had not led to round the clock drinking.
It said that it planned to undertake further research into post-midnight drinking patterns and their impact on crime and order.
