Britain toasts in new licensing laws peacefully

Britain toasts in new licensing laws peacefully
LONDON - Britain welcomed the changed drinking laws in a restrained manner with no reports of any drunken brawls or violence in the first 24 hours after the introduction of new rules. Changes in the licensing laws allow bars and pubs to extend their working hours. Some bars have 24-hour operational licenses.

Police and health officials had feared that the change in laws would lead to debauchery and increased accidents. That has not happened on the first day and the Metropolitan Police said that it would be at least six months before the effect of the law became clear. Prime Minister Tony Blair's Government had pumped heavily for such a law, but critics say that this was an open invitation to disaster. "I think it is totally sending out the wrong message, and as a result we are going to see the figures rise of alcohol-related deaths on the roads in this country," opined Mandy Roberts, a worker at the Campaign Against Drunk Driving organization. Ms Roberts felt that the government was sending out a very wrong message by changing the laws.

Britain has one of the worst records as far as alcohol consumption is concerned and this record has plummeted to new depths in the last five years. It is reported that there has been a 15 percent increase in alcoholic consumption in the UK during this time. The nation seems to enjoy its tipple and this was made pretty clear as crowds could be seen in major pubs that stayed open after midnight. The British Beer and Pub Association has sought to put a lid on doomsday predictions and has said that the change in laws would not complicate matters, "Anybody would think that the end of civilization is going to be visited upon them at midnight tonight," said Mark Hastings of the BBPA. "But if you treat adults like grown-ups, they act like grown-ups. For too long we've had Nanny bending over us telling us what to do and what not to do."

Alcoholic related deaths are also on the rise in the country and it is reported that 80 percent of all hospital admissions for liver disease are related to consumption.