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| slump caused by new 24 hour laws? http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3025 |
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| Author: | steveo [ Thu Jan 05, 2006 2:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | slump caused by new 24 hour laws? |
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Z38D52A6C HAVE 24-HOUR DRINKING LAWS CUT THE CRIME? Next Story | Previous Story | Back to list Be the first reader to comment on this story 12:00 - 05 January 2006 Suburban pubs look like benefiting from new 24-hour licensing laws after festive drinkers swapped Plymouth city centre for their locals - where they were better behaved. It is thought that staggered closings are also beginning to affect crime and disorder, although the real test will be during the next two months. Police reported a quieter Christmas and New Year than normal. The Devon and Cornwall force received 800 calls and made 117 arrests, mostly for 'alcohol-related assaults and disorder', on New Year's Eve, but the total was 15-20 per cent down on last year. Westcountry Ambulance NHS Trust said the 136 emergency calls it had in Plymouth and Torquay on December 31 were 11 per cent down on last year. And Derriford Hospital's A &E department, while very busy, said there was 'no significant increase in alcohol-related incidents' on New Year's Eve and cases came in at a steady rate rather than all at once. It has led to speculation that drinkers decided not to brave cold weather, expensive taxi fares, and club door prices, and enjoy the comforts of local inns instead. Since November 24, pubs have been allowed to serve booze up to 24 hours a day, and, while nearly all opted not to, many extended their hours. It is thought the combination of later opening, convenience and cost has made suburban watering holes, where people were less likely to cause trouble, more attractive. Although police and licensees say it is too early to tell the full effects of the new law, there is also some evidence revellers are staggering their home times - before and after last orders. Fred Prout, Plymouth's Alcohol Related Crime Reduction Officer, said that since 1999, premises could open for 36 hours at New Year, and since then there had been 'an exodus' of people from the city centre. He said: "That trend seems to have continued this year." He said people might be inclined to be 'a bit better behaved' drinking near home, and while figures for violent incidents in the city's licensed premises were still being collated they 'do not appear to be on the increase'. He said 'feedback' from some premises suggests people are staggering their home times, too, and therefore beating taxi queues. But he said the next 'two or three months' will see patterns emerge. City centre venues reported crowds early on Christmas Eve and December 31, but with some people heading to late-opening locals during the evening. Peter Jones, chairman of the club bosses Licensed Leisure Association, said: "People were not coming out in droves." His venues, Henry J's, in Mayflower Street, and Boomerang, Mutley Plain, were busy during the day but 'not much of an increase on normal weekends', he said. Meanwhile, at Kularoos, Union Street, staff reported a quiet Christmas Eve, when the bar shut early at 1am, with a busier than expected 3am at New Year, but 'uneventful' overall. At the suburban Elburton Hotel, licensee Chris Colmer said the festive period had been 'extremely good' and was still busy. The bar opened about an hour later, to 2am, at New Year and he described Christmas Eve as 'heaving'. He said: "Because places have late licences outside town it's easier for people who don't live in town to go drinking." At the Mermaid Inn, Eggbuckland, staff reported a 'very good new year' but Christmas Eve was 'a normal weekend'. Plymouth's only 24-hour pub, the Clipper in Union Street, was busy and trouble-free throughout the entire period - including Christmas Day and January 1. Boss Tom McPherson said: "People returned home from a good meal or early drink knowing their local was open and they could walk home." Graham Couch, chairman of Plymouth Taxis Ltd, said Christmas was not very busy for the industry, blaming 'recession' and customers going out in groups. He said: "When clubs kick out at 2am on a Saturday you can't get a cab for love or money - but the last couple of Saturdays it's been more staggered, a continuous flow of customers. ...................................... i have heard that its dead in the city centre at the moment but busy out in the surbubs in local pubs and social clubs. Hacks with ranks in town are suffering but PH still doing OK out of it. |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Thu Jan 05, 2006 6:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: slump caused by new 24 hour laws? |
steveo wrote: i have heard that its dead in the city centre at the moment but busy out in the surbubs in local pubs and social clubs. Hacks with ranks in town are suffering but PH still doing OK out of it.
Doesn't surprise me one bit. 
In many areas the suburbs have been negected by the taxi trade, by not by the PH trade. 
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| Author: | Fae Fife [ Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
The pubs up here have been open later for a number of years, and I doubt if that was the difference at Christmas. Christmas Eve in St Andrews is usually bad, but this year it was ridiculous and from what I read on here and heard from people it was the same in other places. That's why there was less trouble. |
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| Author: | Ollie [ Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: slump caused by new 24 hour laws? |
steveo wrote: i have heard that its dead in the city centre at the moment but busy out in the surbubs in local pubs and social clubs. Hacks with ranks in town are suffering but PH still doing OK out of it.
I agree Steveo. If it wasn't for the licensed private hire trade in the suburbs of London, then no-one would be able to get anywhere. Ollie |
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