"Longer opening hours will give consumers more freedom to choose how and when to celebrate New Year's Eve and it will give the industry the chance to give their customers what they want," Kim Howells said.
If the Order is approved by the House of Lords this afternoon, it would mean that all future New Year's Eves pubs and clubs could open between 11.00am on New Year's Eve and 11.00pm New Year's Day: an unbroken 36-hour period.
Kim Howells said:
"If the Order is approved by Parliament, police, local authorities and local residents would have the right to seek restriction orders from their local magistrates' courts which would, if granted, prevent premises likely to cause disorder or disturbance from benefiting from the longer hours. Five days notice of making an application must be given.
"I hope that people will start thinking now about whether they want to seek restriction orders in respect of particular premises. If the Order is approved this afternoon, it will be brought into force tomorrow. Applicants anxious about the longer drinking hours will need to lodge their applications before the courts on that day to ensure that there is time to consider them."
Notes to Editors
1.The regulatory reform order has now undergone further scrutiny by the Select Committees responsible for Regulatory Reform in the House of Commons and House of Lords and both have reported positively. The House of Commons has approved the Order and the House of Lords will consider it this afternoon. This further scrutiny cannot commence by law until 17 December.
2. Local magistrates' courts' Chief Executives will be able to advise local residents exactly how an application can be made, which are identical to the procedures put in place for the Golden Jubilee this year. Details of local residents' rights under the Order can be found on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's website.
