We take to the streets to see how the general public are reacting to yesterday's licensing reform announcement.
Julian Artis, owner of a record store in Croydon:
"You've got to be joking about longer hours. The Queen should come here on a Friday night - its absolute madness! I think it's a great idea in theory but in practice it's ludicrous.
"It's outrageous that kids will be allowed to go into pubs on their own, we don't let them in our shop because they're such a nuisance so I dread to think what they'd be like in a pub."
Dawn, a 33 year-old lawyer:
"I welcome being able to get a drink after two o'clock in the morning but I think I'll definitely end up spending more money."
On the anti-social issue she said: "Instead of there being a mass problem at 11pm, there will be sporadic fighting from 11pm until three. British males under 25 are not responsible enough to deal with the change - you don't see Italians passing out at half past eleven!"
Mary Widow, retired:
"I think it's a good idea as it will stop people binge drinking. But for people who work nine-to-five there's only a certain amount of time they can drink.
"And a place where people are getting drunk and smoking is not a suitable environment for children. If you go to the pub you don't want to be surrounded by screaming kids - there's enough of them at home. Maybe they should be restricted to lunchtime."
Gemma, 19 and Joseph, 20: (pictured)
"I think it's a great idea and we're always stuck for somewhere to go after the pub. I'll end up spending the same amount of money but more of it in the pub rather than a club.
"But allowing unsupervised kids in pubs will increase the problem of underage drinking. Plus the pub is one place adults can go to get away from children."
Paul Hefner, labourer:
"I think it's a very good idea. To shut at 11pm is stupid as not everyone wants to go to a club where the average age is 18. I think a small section will probably drink more but by-and-large people have got the same amount of cash no matter how long the pubs are open for. It'll be good once everybody gets used to the idea."
Related articles:
Reaction from the industry to licensing reform announcement (14 November 2002)
The changes new licensing laws will bring and when (14 November 2002)
Licensing reform announced in Queen's Speech (13 November 2002)
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