I have been asked, elsewhere on this blog, what my views are on the new Licencing Laws and drinking in the town Centrex. These are important issues so I have created a blog entry about it.
Maybe I am getting older, or maybe it really is because we have many more drinking outlets in Kingston, but the town centre of Kingston, in common with other town Centres are becoming deeply unpleasant places to visit. I would have to check but I do remember reading somewhere that going back a hundred years there were some 14 inns around the ancient market place alone. Even I can remember when there were many more then there are now.
I was talking to an organisation that works with 'older people' and they make a very good case for Kingston not being a place where those in their late fifties onwards would choose to go at night. It is not just because there is little for that age group to do at night but also because town centres can be intimidating places when full of young people many of whom are in a pretty dreadful state of drunkenness.
Many of us have travelled abroad and seen the so called "cafe society" and the Governments current legislation seeks to bring that sort of environment about through having the ability of 24 hour opening. The question must be"is our society ready to accept the responsibility this brings" and I must say I have serious doubts it is? The theory goes that the longer the time you have to drink the less likely you are to get drunk and that the ending of the "turning out" period at 11pm will mean a dispersal of any potential violence. It could also be argued that all you end up with is a longer period of problems needed to be addressed by an over stretched police force.
One of the other serious issues I believe is open to debate is the removal of the granting of licences from magistrates and giving it to Councillors for decision, with some delegated to council officers. I do wonder whether this is such a sensible move? I am all for powers devolved down to the local level but wonder whether councillors have the skills, or might even be accused of having an electoral interest, in granting a licence. Magistrates have no such considerations and specialise in the area of licencing applications.
Am I for or against it? On balance I am against it because I think it is ill though out and in itself will not address the bigger need for a cultural change to personal responsiblity and away from binge drinking.
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