Last call for last call in England, Wales

Changes to licensing laws that took effect in England and Wales this week mean pubs and bars can stay open later into the night, and even 24 hours a day in the case of at least 1,000 establishments.

Since the end of the Second World War, last call in British watering holes has traditionally come at 11 p.m. Drinking hours have been restricted in some way for at least 90 years.

Now the government is allowing as many as 60,000 bars, pubs and other licensed establishments to extend their hours in an attempt to address a growing problem with binge drinking.

Patrons often order several drinks at a time near the end of the evening to cram in the maximum amount of alcohol before closing time.

"It's the behaviour that goes with it that's the problem," said Michael Craik, the chief constable of the Northumbria Police.

Fuelled with a large amount of beer or liquor drunk in a short time, bar customers spill out onto the sidewalks to fight, vomit and cause damage to nearby buildings and cars.

The British government thinks that by offering people more time to drink, they'll be less tempted to drink to excess.

Marianne Jackson agreed with that theory as she refilled her wine glass this week at the William Morris pub in West London.

"You won't get everyone cramming in two bottles of wine before 11," she said. "You'll be able to drink these before 12 and then we wouldn't all pile out of the pubs at 11 really, really pissed."

So far, about 40 per cent of eligible drinking places have applied to change their hours.

More than 1,100 establishments have been granted approval to offer liquor 24 hours a day under the new rules. About 360 of those are pubs and clubs.