Government failing to crackdown on rogue pubs - Foster

6.25.02pm GMT Tue 8th Mar 2005

Bath's MP, Don Foster, has released research showing that Labour has failed to crack down on landlords who permit anti-social binge drinking on their premises.

Don has called for the implementation of the Licensing Act to be halted.

· Only 11 landlords a year on average have been prosecuted for allowing drunken or riotous behaviour on their premises since 1997.

· Only 12 people in total have been prosecuted for buying drink for friends who are incapable through binge drinking since 1997. There were no prosecutions at all in 2000 or 2001.

· New powers to tackle binge drinking added by the 2001 Criminal Justice Act have only led to one (unsuccessful) prosecution.

Don Foster MP, Liberal Democrat Culture Spokesman said:

"Binge drinking is out of control but the Government is failing to tackle rogue pubs and nightclubs.

"The Government has at last decided to make the industry, and not the taxpayer, foot the bill for monitoring and policing.

"But even the fees meant to help cut binge drinking bizarrely apply to pubs but not clubs.

"Furthermore, with over 50,000 acts of alcohol-fuelled violence last year, it's clear that binge drinking is taking up too much police time."

"Until police and local authorities have greater powers, Labour's longer licensing hours should be put on ice."