The Prime Minister has confirmed that plans to relax the licensing laws will be included in the Queen's Speech next week (November 13). Tony Blair confirmed that licensing was on the list and indicated that he saw the change as a way of tackling anti-social behaviour.
If pubs are allowed to close at different times, thousands of customers would not be thrown out onto the streets at the same time often leading to clashes of violence, he said.
The news has been welcomed by the trade, which has been eagerly awaiting the reforms for the last few years. But it has been negatively received by the national press who have claimed that it will increase late night violence and trouble, despite Mr Blair's and the trade's views.
The British Beer and Pub Association's Mark Hastings said: "It's really good news. At last we're going to be looking at licensing reform being in place by next year. But we still have an awful lot of work to do to make sure it's what we want."
At last year's election, Labour tried to woo young voters by sending text messages indicating a re-elected Labour government would introduce 24-hour pub opening.
But when the Queen's Speech was unveiled shortly after last year's election there was no such bill on offer.
The move to reform the outdated licensing laws has the backing of many police officers who also feel that staggering the time pubs close at would reduce disorder. It is also hoped that the reforms would boost tourism and help tackle the binge drinking culture.