Pub hours reform 'has cut late-night violence'

If I'd had that bet with you I wouldn't be paying out just yet. This report is made by a pub chain, which obviously has a vested interest in keeping the new, more relaxed, rules. The police OTOH say it is too early to say.

My own personal experience is that things have become more civilised now. There isn't the 11pm stampede for taxis or to get into later opening pubs that there used to be - both typical flash points - and thats certainly a noticable improvement

I agree. I personally find the whole arrangement much more civilised. But I am cautious about citing that as 'evidence' of how the new regulations are working because the only potentially violent places I've drunk in tended to stay open until 2 and I generally left before then anyway.

Yep. The big change for me is if I've been to the cinema or to see a band with friends and we want to go for a drink after. Now there's no pressure to rush anywhere just to beat "last orders"

I never found the pubs themselves to be the violent places (not the ones I use anyway) - it was always nearby that trouble tended to ensue. Kebabs shops don't sell any alcohol for example but they got many of the fights.

Nobody does until some independent figures are available.

The pub chains have a vested interest in the extended opening hours, so anything they say along these lines must be treated with suspicion, particularly when there don't seem to be any actual figures.

True but the pub chain also has a vested interest in seeing less disorder as that costs it money. I see no reason to disbelieve the claim simply because the entity making it is a pub chain. It is right to be cautious, but because this is only part of the picture.

I can only speak for my own area but we have seen a sgnificant fall in petty vandalism in the last year. There is a night club and bar at the end of our road and another three within 50metres. The road that junctions ours has a number of fast food places and restaurants. Every weekend we used to get cars vandalised and homes and cars smeared with remains of takeaway meals and people shouting and sometimes fighting.

Since the relaxation of opening hours the bars are staying open longer. That initially worried me but seeing how trouble has almost vanished I'm all for it. Can't remember the last time we had any vandalism and violence has totally dissapeared. Although there was someone stabbed outside a club a few weeks ago.

In message , Tommo writes

Fair comment.

Which actually means that there is clear evidence that there has not been the orgy of drunken violence that was predicted. "Too early to say" is often a euphemism for "the facts don't match our prejudices".