Crackdown on under-age drinkers

A Christmas crackdown on under-age drinking is being launched amid concern over new licensing laws.

Pub and shop managers face seasonal sting operations that coincide with the end of the compulsory 11pm closing time.

Critics fear the change will fuel binge-drinking when it comes into force across England and Wales on November 24. Conservatives are fighting to delay the reform in the House of Lords.

Ministers insist the move will encourage a continental-style cafe culture rather than round-the-clock-drinking, and pubs minister James Purnell predicted only a handful of pubs would apply for 24-hour licences.

However, a survey for the Independent showed at least 160 pubs were among 546 venues and shops that have already been granted the licences.

The Government is keen to counter suggestions the reform might encourage violence and disorder by stressing that new powers have been given to police and local authorities to deal with the problem.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke will launch the latest stage of an alcohol enforcement campaign on Tuesday. Mr Clarke and Cabinet colleagues have written to police and local authority leaders ahead of the launch reminding them of the existing and new powers.

The Home Secretary highlights the use of "test purchase", or sting operations, "to send a strong and visible message to premises suspected of fuelling alcohol-related disorder".

A spokeswoman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which is overseeing the changes, said there would be a "Christmas crackdown".

The spokeswoman also said the newspaper survey suggested that less than one in 200 premises would be granted 24-hour licences, insisting: "In the case of pubs and bars, indications from the trade are that many of those with 24-hour licences merely want the flexibility to use them on special occasions - for example to show sporting events on the other side of the world. They don't intend to make it a regular occurrence."

Daily Mail ~ 14/11/05