End of Happy Hour?

12.31.10pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 25th May 2005

Discounted drinks in town centre pubs could be a thing of the past with the national level announcement by chains accounting for around 70% sales that the practice will cease. There are hopes that town centre 'binge drinking' will be cut back if there is no incentive to drink as much as possible, as quickly as possible.

Vincent Cable, MP, was tackled about the issue of Twickenham's 'binge drinking' when he spoke at a business breakfast organised by the Twickenham town centre management board and the town centre Manager, Esther Warboys. Also present was Frank Dupree of the Cabbage Patch, who worked with Vincent Cable, Esther and the police to draw up the publican's Code of Conduct, now operating in Twickenham.

Vincent Cable said that if the voluntary code and similar measures do not work and if there is continued expansion of licensing capacity leading to more drunkenness, then more drastic action will have to be taken including a levy on pubs - and off licenses - to pay for late night policing. "This week's announcement of a curb on drinks promotions suggests that the big drinkers' chains understand the threat now facing them".

Vincent Cable added that "the public health issues should not be over looked in the concern about street disorder. Alcohol Concern's shocking figures - that 6,000 to 8,000 people in the borough are drinking way above safe limits and are heading for both alcohol related diseases and addiction - is chilling and a timely reminder of what is at stake".