Warning that relaxation of alcohol licensing laws could impact on communities, anti-social behaviour and emergency services
Balance has joined the Association of Directors of Public Health in warning that plans to liberalise pub and hospitality licensing could weaken the voice of local authorities and residents in crucial decisions, impacting on local communities, emergency services and health.
The Government announced last night a “fast track review to tear up outdated licensing rules” and launched a four week call for evidence from the hospitality sector and local communities.
But with liver disease, alcohol deaths and alcohol-related hospital admissions rising, the Institute of Alcohol Studies warned the new rules could “allow an open all hours free-for-all in the availability of alcohol”. It also warned it could leave people affected by late night openings powerless to object to late night noise and anti-social behaviour.
There are fears:
- The plan would restrict local councils’ ability to control licensing in their area by creating a new “national licensing policy framework” which would weaken the power of local elected representatives and licensing committees.
- Any small benefits to some premises could backfire as off-licences, corner shops and supermarkets, which already sell 80% of all alcohol, could also take advantage of easier access to longer opening hours.
Alice Wiseman, Director of Public Health for Newcastle and Gateshead and vice president for the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) said: “We cannot let the alcohol industry influence policy to the detriment of people’s health and wellbeing.
“Local authorities, local residents and planning committees understand their neighbourhoods best and so it is vital that they have a role in deciding the outcome of licensing applications, particularly because we know that more deprived areas often have a higher number of alcohol outlets, contributing to alcohol-related harm, anti-social behaviour and violence, and worsening health inequalities.
“One of the biggest concerns people have around alcohol is the link to anti-social behaviour. People want to feel safe in their homes and neighbourhoods and cities at night. But these new rules could mean longer drinking hours, and even more problems for police, paramedics, NHS and A&E teams dealing with the fallout.
“There is also a risk that these rules do the exact opposite from what they intend. Pubs have struggled because of cheap alcohol in shops and supermarkets. These proposals would actually make it easier for more outlets to get alcohol licences which could encourage even more people to drink cheap alcohol at home.”
Ailsa Rutter OBE, Director of Fresh and Balance, the North East tobacco and alcohol programme, said: “Deaths from alcohol are at record levels nationally and liver disease is rising. A blanket relaxation of licensing rules does not take into account the differences in very real pressures facing different communities across the UK.
“82% of people in our region see alcohol as a big problem regionally and nationally. We will ensure that we feed in the wealth of evidence in our region on the scale of harm from alcohol.
“Taking alcohol more seriously is long overdue, and if we are to see the progress in reducing smoking it is vital that there is action to reduce alcohol burden too, as alcohol is often a trigger for smoking.”
Amanda Healy, Director of Public Health for Durham County Council and Chair of the Association of Directors of Public Health North East, said: “Local authorities play a vital role in safeguarding the health and wellbeing of people in their local communities and I am sure all the Directors of Public Health across the region will be looking carefully at this and respond with the needs of their communities at the forefront.”
FULL RESPONSE FROM ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Today, the Government has launched a call for evidence on proposed changes to the licensing system, as recommended by the Licensing Taskforce. Responding to the consultation, ADPH spokesperson for addiction, Peter Roderick, who is also Director of Public Health for the City of York, said:
“Alcohol causes seven different types of cancer and almost one in 25 of all new cancers are estimated to be linked to alcohol. Alcohol also contributes to the development of hundreds of other conditions, including high blood pressure and liver disease.
“Worldwide, in 2019, over 700,000 deaths were caused by injuries as a result of alcohol consumption, and in 2023, there were nearly ten and a half thousand alcohol-specific deaths in the UK – a number which has risen every year for the last five years.
“There is no one answer to reducing the numbers of people suffering – and dying – from ill health caused by alcohol. However, we know that policies which reduce the affordability and availability of alcohol will help. Extending opening hours goes against this basic principle and will therefore undoubtedly increase alcohol harm – both through ill health and the impact of violence.
“We also know that more deprived areas often have a higher number of alcohol outlets, contributing not only to alcohol-related harm, but also to health inequalities.
“Therefore, it is absolutely vital that local authorities, local residents and planning committees – the people who understand their local communities best – play a role in deciding the outcome of licensing applications in their area.
“Directors of Public Health across the country have a statutory duty to protect the health of their local residents and so it is right that we consider the recommendations made by the Licensing Taskforce, which aim to reduce administrative burden on businesses while maintaining strong safeguards for public health, carefully.
“In England, alcohol harm costs society £27.44 billion each year and so it is important to remember that while we all want to see growth in the economy, quick savings that are made at the expense of people’s health and wellbeing will not only be harmful for individuals and their families, but also to the economy through lost productivity and increased demand on our health and social care services.”
https://www.adph.org.uk/2025/10/alcohol-licensing-reforms/