While outrage over 24-hour pub drinking dominated the headlines when the Licensing Act 2003 came into force more than 10 years ago, the statistics revealed that more licences have been granted in other sectors of the on and off-trade.
The statistics, published by the Home Office in its alcohol and late-night refreshment licensing England and Wales report, showed that overall there were 8,300 premises with 24-hour alcohol licences as at 31 March 2016. This is an increase of 6%, up 500, since 31 March 2010.
More than half (54%) of convenience stores have 24-hour licences, 46% of large supermarkets and 43% of hotel bars.
The number of premises licences across both on and off-trade in England and Wales rose by 3% (5,500) in the two years to 31 March 2016, making a total of 210,000 premises licences.
Of these premises licences, there were 38,600 that authorised on-sales of alcohol only, while 80,100 premises licences authorised both on and off-sales while there were 55,700 premises licences that authorised off-sales of alcohol only.
In the year ending 31 March 2016, local authorities received 9,833 applications for new premises licences and 5,106 applications to vary the terms of a premises licence.
There were also 4,952 premises licences that were surrendered by the holder, 4,399 were suspended by the local authority, 461 lapsed, 73 were affected by a closure notice, and two were suspended by a court.
There were 700 reviews completed, representing a decrease of 13% (down 100) compared with the year ending 31 March 2014. Of those, 80% were following a general application for a review; 16% following an application by the police for an expedited review; 3% were for premises licences following a closure order and 1% were for club premises certificates following a general application for a review.
The data was compiled from 347 out of 350 local authorities across England and Wales.