Licensing Hours Extensions Act 2026

A vote to support means

• —Enables businesses to respond to customer demand and compete effectively with late-night venues in other areas, potentially boosting local economies and tourism revenue
• —Allows responsible establishments with good safety records to extend hours, rewarding those with strong management practices and customer care standards
• —Reduces unnecessary bureaucratic restrictions on adult leisure choices, letting local communities and businesses determine appropriate hours through the licensing process rather than rigid national rules
• —Can help reduce problematic 'closing time rush' behaviour by spreading customer departures over a longer period, potentially improving public safety and reducing anti-social incidents in town centres

A vote to oppose means

• —May increase alcohol-related harm, including health risks from excessive drinking, liver disease, and alcohol dependency, particularly in areas with high deprivation or existing health inequalities
• —Could lead to more noise complaints, antisocial behaviour, and disruption to residents living near licensed premises, especially in densely populated urban areas with mixed residential and commercial use
• —Risks inadequate local authority resources to properly assess applications and enforce conditions, particularly in under-funded councils, potentially allowing unsuitable venues to extend hours
• —May disadvantage smaller, traditional pubs that cannot compete with larger venues, leading to concentration of late-night drinking in big commercial establishments rather than community-focused hospitality