Pubs could be forced to cut their opening hours under ‘nanny state’ plans to tackle harmful drinking. Public health minister Andrew Gwynne said the government is looking at overhauling the licensing laws in a drive to boost the nation’s health and tackle anti-social behaviour. He indicated that the measures being considered include tougher action against irresponsible landlords and – far more controversially – ‘tightening up on some of the hours of operation’. The proposal, which comes just a month after it emerged that Labour is planning to ban smoking in beer gardens and outside restaurants, triggered an immediate backlash in the licensed industry. Last night, Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, warned the ‘half-baked plans’ would be detrimental to the trade, with 50 pubs already closing each month. Mr Gwynne’s move comes against the backdrop of growing concerns within the Department of Health and Social Care about the rising cost of treating preventable diseases such as cancer, obesity and type 2 diabetes. Speaking at the Labour conference in Liverpool, Mr Gwynne said the government’s chief medical officer, Professor Sir Chris Whitty, has shown ministers slides that reveal the cost of treating preventable diseases currently accounts for 40 per cent of the NHS budget and would rise to 60 per cent if trends continue. He said there ‘isn’t enough money to carry on with the rate of demand’, stressing: ‘Alcohol harm is one of the key areas: the availability of alcohol, the harms that over-drinking, domestic violence, the licensing laws.’ While licensing decisions are a matter for the Home Office, a clampdown in licensing hours could cut crime – as well as improving health, he said. ‘Actually there is a big win for the Home Office because a lot of domestic violence they have to deal with is as a direct consequence of alcohol,’ the minister said. ‘These are discussions that we have got to have – even if it’s just about tightening up on some of the hours of operation; particularly where there are concerns that people are drinking too much,’ he said. Asked about Professor Whitty’s position on reining in licensing hours, Mr Gwynne replied: ‘He is very keen that there is a refresh of the licensing laws.’ Mr Gwynne pointed to recent government moves to ban junk food advertising on the internet and on TV before the watershed. He added that the government will not hesitate to legislate against firms who produce ultra-processed foods if they fail to make their products healthier voluntarily. But he stressed Labour are ‘not in the game of being the fun police or a super-nanny, wanting to bear down on all the fun things in life’, adding: ‘This is actually an economic argument and a moral argument that it is not sustainable and it is morally reprehensible that someone falls into ill health at the age of 52 with entirely preventable disease’. Chris Snowdon, head of lifestyle economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: ‘The last Labour government’s decision to relax licensing laws was a great success but it seems the new Government wants to hammer pubs any way it can. ‘We already have 50 pubs a month closing and any move to ban outside smoking and restrict hours will put more at risk. ‘Ministers’ full-throated support for nanny-state measures is very concerning and should be resisted for the proaction of this country’s heritage.’ Ms Nicholls added: ‘At no point have the government raised major licensing reforms as part our detailed discussions on how to unlock growth, and the sector would be extremely disappointed to have this dropped on them without consultation. ‘At a time when hospitality businesses continue to face enormous challenges, forcing 50 pubs a month to close, the sector needs certainty and a strong licensing framework with decisions made locally in a way that directly benefits the communities they serve. ‘The last thing anyone needs are half-baked plans thrust upon them, to the detriment of trading.’ However, Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, chair of Alcohol Health Alliance UK, said: ‘We welcome any move by this Government to reduce alcohol harm using evidence-based policies such as tackling licensing hours. ‘However, this must include off-trade premises as well as pubs and bars. It is scandalous that a bottle of vodka can still be bought at 2am in a petrol station. ‘We would also encourage Government to take action through duty rises and minimum unit price to tackle the bargain-basement cost of alcohol in our supermarkets and off-licenses, which is the main driver of the 30 per cent increase in alcohol-specific deaths since before the Covid pandemic.’ A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman later tried to back-pedal on the minister’s comments, saying: ‘It is categorically untrue that the government is considering changing alcohol licensing hours.
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