NCJ Number
224333
Journal
Criminology & Criminal Justice Volume: 8 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2008 Pages: 239-260
Date Published
August 2008
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This article summarizes the results of an evaluation of the impact of the Licensing Act 2003 in England and Wales, which abolished set licensing hours for pubs and clubs with the aim of liberalizing a rigid system and reducing the problems of drinking and disorder associated with a standard closing time for these drinking establishments.
Abstract
Despite widespread concern that this legislation would result in “24-hour drinking” and an increase in alcohol-related behaviors, after 1 year in force (since November 2005) the law has brought little change in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problem behaviors. Although the majority of pubs extended their hours for serving alcohol, the average national increase in alcohol-serving hours was small. Alcohol consumption even showed a slight decline over the first year the law was in effect. According to crime statistics, victim surveys, and medical statistics, the new licensing law did not lead to an increase in violent crime and disorder. These findings contrast with evidence from other countries that have moved from strict alcohol-serving hours to more liberalized regimes (e.g., Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, Ireland, and Iceland). These countries experienced higher levels of alcohol consumption and more alcohol-related crime and disorder. Such comparisons must be made with caution, since different evaluation methods were used. For the current study in England and Wales, information about the national trend was drawn from several sources. These included a survey of 30 police forces’ statistics on violent crime, disorder, and criminal damage from October 2004 to November 2006; a large-scale survey of violent incidents; a telephone survey of police licensing officers in 26 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales 6 months after the act’s implementation; and the British Crime Survey (victim survey) regarding trends in violent crime. 5 figures, 7 notes, and 48 references