'Red cards' for pubs to curb binge drinkingFrom
Pubs and clubs will lose their licences after breaking the drinking laws twice and people caught drinking in public areas where it is banned will face increased fines, the Government will announce today.
Ministers will hold out the prospect of blanket licence bans in the early hours where there has been persistent trouble from rowdy drinkers but they will not reverse the 24-hour licensing laws. Two reviews from the Home Office and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport of the 30 months of operation of the 24-hour law will give it qualified backing — “a mark of seven out of ten” according to one senior official.
But at the instigation of Gordon Brown and Andy Burnham, the new Culture Secretary, measures designed to tackle binge drinking and the irresponsible minority who have abused the laws will be outlined today and later in the year.
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