AN ESTIMATED nine out of ten pubs are seeking new late-night opening licences from November 24 in time for the Christmas season, the British Beer and Pub Association said yesterday.

Landlords at about 47,000 pubs applying for licences under a new system want their pubs to stay open as late as midnight or 1am, especially at weekends.

Mark Hastings, the association’s director of communications, said: “With most licensees opting for a modest increase in opening hours, we are not witnessing a free for all.

“Instead there will be more choice for consumers, with many pubs opting for limited extra time on Friday and Saturday evenings.”

The Association of Chief Police Officers fears that more police time could be taken up dealing with drunks on the streets. Commander Chris Allison, of the Metropolitan Police, said that the extension “could result in people drinking until later and the night-time economy becoming busier.

“The result will be more people under the influence of alcohol, or drunk, and this will lead to more crime and disorder.

“The implications for the police service in terms of additional workload are significant and officers will have to be diverted from other policing priorities and activities to undertake enforcement activity against those who are drunk and disorderly.” He also gave warning that police would oppose late-night opening at problem pubs.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said that police would have new powers to deal with alcohol-related problems: “Police will be able to close premises for up to 24 hours without warning if there are problems.”

Tomorrow is the deadline for submitting applications for the new licences, to be issued in November. The British Beer and Pub Association, which represents big breweries and nearly two thirds of Britain’s 59,000 pubs, said that landlords were on target to meet it.

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