What the papers say - July 20, 2007

The first official figures on the impact of the change in pub opening hours - in the Home Office's British Crime Survey - suggest the new licensing laws have so far made little impact on crime. There was a slight increase to 940,000 in incidents of violent disorder, criminal damage and harrassment committed between 6pm and 6am in the 12 months following the new laws in England and Wales. But the survey does suggest that it is drink, rather than drugs, which is fuelling violent incidents overall. - The Guardian, others​

Eighteen smokers were handed fixed penalty notices in three hours at a Newport bus station. Enforcement officers gave out the punishments in South Wales between 10am and 1pm on Tuesday after receiving complaints. Newport City Council said that the bus station was classed as a "substantially enclosed public space" and the smokers were contravening the smoking ban brought in on July 1. - The Times​

A £3m summer anti-drink drive campaign aimed specifically at young men has been launched by the government. Spearheading the campaign is a new type of TV advert revealing the social consequences for a young person caught driving while over the legal limit. Transport secretary Ruth Kelly said: "Drink drivers are a danger to themselves and others and there is no place for them on our roads." - Daily Express​

The wettest June on record put the dampers on shop sales last month. Sales edged up just 0.2 per cent in June - half the rate of increase seen in May - according to official figures from the Office for National Statistics. Supermarkets were hardest hit, with sales falling 1.1 per cent - Daily Mirror​