Last orders called on 24-hour drink laws

Round-the-clock drinking in Britain may be scrapped in a government review of the licensing laws, it was revealed today.

Home Secretary Theresa May said the new coalition government was undertaking a "complete review" of the 24-hour licensing laws amid concern about the binge drinking culture.

The Labour government introduced 24-hour drinking in 2005 in an effort to bring in a more continental-style café culture.

However Mrs May said she had always opposed the change and revealed ministers were reviewing the system.

Speaking at the Police Federation Conference in Bournemouth she said: "We are looking at the licensing laws because they have produced problems on our streets.

"There are issues about the binge drinking culture that has grown up. We are having a complete review of the 24-hour licensing laws."

She earned a laugh from the audience of rank and file police officers when she described how she raised doubts about the law in opposition but was told it would introduce a café culture to Britain.

David Cameron said this year he wanted to make "serious changes" to the alcohol laws after joining police in a late-night patrol in York.

He said: "We need to look at the unbelievable availability of very cheap drinks at all hours of the day and night."

Senior officers in the Met are known to be increasingly concerned about alcohol-fuelled violence in the West End
particularly at weekends.

A Home Office review of 24-hour licensing concluded the changes had had only a "small effect" on crime.