Pub landlords call for licence reform (From Gazette & Herald)

Pub landlords call for licence reform

A CHANGE in licensing laws would help tackle problems of violent and drunken disorder, claim Ryedale pub landlords.

Their calls for the laws to be relaxed reflect comments by local police Inspector Neil Burnett, who told councillors that extended hours helped to tackle violence.

Insp Burnett indicated to members of Ryedale District Council's community services and licensing committee he would support a change in the law.

"We have had extended opening hours in Malton and Norton at weekends before," he said.

"We have noticed that on these occasions there have been much fewer incidents of violent disorder.

"I am a fan of deregulated opening hours."

Darren Rushworth, landlord of the Derwent Arms, in Norton, backed the inspector's comments.

"It is very embarrassing at 10.30pm on a Sunday night to have to tell grown men that they have to go home," he said.

"I am very disappointed the Government has not taken this issue further, especially since they indicated they would look at it two years ago."

His experience of extended licensing hours is that violence is less of an issue when people have more time to drink.

"When they know they have less time in which to drink up a lot of people try and drink as much as possible in the short time they have," he said.

"This tends to make them aggressive because they are drinking too fast.

"Then, when closing time comes around, they all spill out on to the streets at the same time and you get fights."

Sharon Appleby, landlady of The Clarence, in Malton, said a lot of after-hours trouble resulted from drinkers leaving pubs at the same time.

"They are all thrown out on the street at once," she said.

"If they were allowed to stay longer they could leave at different times."

Updated: 13:41 Saturday, June 01, 2002