Nicholas Craig column

Feb 11 2005 By Nicholas Craig, The Journal

Pubs can now apply to stay open all hours of the day and night.

Does that mean we will turn into "urban savages" and town centres become no-go areas as a judge warned this week? Somehow I doubt it.

Only one bar owner has came forward on Tyneside to take advantage of new 24-hour licensing laws, and a survey of Newcastle pub owners found that no others had plans to change their current arrangements.

It's more likely that an extra hour or two will be added by some pub owners to extend drinking time, which will neither change us into continental sophisticates nor addled alcoholics.

The aim of the act is to stop full-scale war breaking out between drinkers and bar staff at 11.20pm. The authorities' concern was that the old hours brought problems of drunkenness and violence on the street at a particular time in the evening.

The cynics may say that this will now be able to continue all night long. However, the effect of dispersing the bingers at the end of the evening to quell rowdiness will be strengthened by the imminent ban of the happy hour, which promotes pandemonium in many of Britain's town centres in the early evenings.

The Office of Fair Trading has written to local authorities giving them the go-ahead to call time on cut-price drink deals.

Costly drinks and pricey staff are both likely to rein in bingers and round the clock licences.

Will we see a difference in our party city?

I predict things will stay much the same as they have for the past decade in the city centre.

Those who drink until they are falling over or asleep, and leave the pub for a kebab and bed are unlikely to change their way of life because of the licensing laws.

Those who pop in for a swift drink when it suits their lifestyle may appreciate the extra time in which to sip tequila, but sigh at having to pay full price.

Newcastle's nightlife has a tight balance to maintain. Its buzz is fuelled by the popularity, quality and quantity of its pubs and clubs.

Its reputation could be harmed by more late night brawls at taxi ranks and takeaway shops.

By allowing more leeway with late hours at weekends and cutting back low-priced drinks, the party spirit is likely to thrive while the flashpoints that lead to trouble will be tempered.