Urgent action needed to reverse Labour’s binge-drinking culture, says Malcolm Moss MP

562 Fenlanders victim to alcohol-fuelled violent attacks last year alone

Tough action is needed to curb the uncontrolled spread in binge-drinking, according to North East Cambridgeshire MP Malcolm Moss.

The latest Home Office crime figures have revealed that in Fenland alone there were 1,196 violent attacks against individuals last year. Based on Government surveys of crime victims, where 47 per cent of all assaults are alcohol-related, 562 of these attacks were caused by people under the influence of alcohol.

There is growing concern about the overlapping problems of late night drinking, fast-food outlets selling alcohol at night; under-age drinking; the easy availability of high-strength alcohol; and retailers, particularly supermarkets, selling alcohol below cost-price. Labour’s licensing laws, which came into effect in 2005, have made it easier for alcohol licences to be given out, and restricted the opportunities for anyone to object to licensing applications.

Mr Moss, who at the time was the Shadow Minister leading on the Licensing Bill, said:

“When I was Shadow Minister for Licensing I repeatedly argued that the new rules introduced by Labour would create more problems that it solved. The Government, however, was adamant that looser regulations on the sale of alcohol and 24-hour licensing should be introduced.

“While we don’t want a return to the old days where every pub shut at 11pm, it is evident that Labour’s licensing laws are too soft. The Government should have introduced measures that gave local councils greater powers to tackle binge-drinking, and made it easier for local councils and residents to oppose applications for 24-hour premises.

“As Shadow Minister, I repeatedly called for this but the Government wouldn’t budge on its 24-hour licensing experiment. Tony Blair claimed that our drinking habits would become more “continental” but what we have instead is growing under-age drinking, binge-drinking and booze-related violence.  

“Local councils need to be given the powers to tackle these problems so that socially responsible people can be able to enjoy a night out in Fenland without fear of violence. We may not have convinced the Government to introduce more sensible licensing laws four years ago, but if the Conservatives win the next election then this is certainly something that we will look at again.”