licensing changes

[tankerville]

I understand that H.B.C. are in the process of a revue to change ALL Licencing Closure Time's for Bars and Pubs in the town back to 2 am.

[SRMoore]

Good. About bloody time too.

[steveL]

I guess that will please the Supermarkets as the shorter hours will mean people will get even more tanked up now before they make their way to the town. The taxis used to take drunk people home; now they take people who are already drunk to the town. 

[SRMoore]

When I were a lad, Steve, we'd have a few drinks before going over West about 7-8ish and be hom for w-2am. Since these extended hours were introduced it seems that most people buy plenty of drinks from the supermarket beforehamd and don't even head out till 10-11pm already tanked up.

I'd say the current hours are more favourable to the supermarkets. More hours to kill (drink cheap booze your your mates) beween finishing work on a Friday and not actually 'going out' till 10pm than.

As I said in my first post. I'm pleased that they are looking at changing these hours as it is for the best.

[steveL]

When you were a lad, you went out to socialise and had a drink...some nights you probably had too many and got drunk. Today, it's the other way round, the same age group go out to get drunk and go with mates with the same intentions. If getting drunk is the target then they can do it cheaper on Supermarket booze and then don't have to rush down loads of more expensive drink when they're out.

One of the reasons the town centre pubs are struggling is that they're not selling the same amount of drink because the punters are already tanked up when they get there. Earlier closing won't make much difference, I'm afraid except that people may be a little more conscious the day after.