BBC focuses on Oldham's tough licensing approach

A hard line approach to licensing in Oldham will be examined in a BBC documentary tonight. Panorama: The Truth About Happy Hours will examine the...

A hard line approach to licensing in Oldham will be examined in a BBC documentary tonight.

Panorama: The Truth About Happy Hours will examine the council's decision to impose a blanket review on the town's 22 town centre licensed premises.

Other measures the council wants to use to tackle late-night disorder include introducing post office style queuing systems at bars, only allowing people to buy two drinks at a time and forcing pubs to employ extra doorstaff - some of who would have to police the bar queue.

The programme indicates that pubs will have to change the way they operate unless they introduce a minimum price of 75p - around £1.88 a pint.

So far some pubs have agreed to introduce changes voluntarily but high street pub the Old Mess House successfully defended itself at review because there was a lack of evidence that drink-related problems stemmed from the pub.

Cllr Mark Allcock told the programme: "It's about trying to get people to drink in moderation.

"What we are trying to do is work with the law. We are trying to work with the licensees - and we are actually achieving that unit price."

Panorama: The Truth About Happy Hours is on BBC 1 at 8.30pm tonight.