Council taxpayers are footing a £100m bill for late-night licensing which has done nothing to curb alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour, according to town hall leaders. As the country's chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson calls on the Government to change licensing laws to put health considerations at the heart, councils, the licensing authority for bars and pubs, say current legislation has ‘had little impact on reducing the alcohol-related violence that blights town centres.' And local authorities, the police and health services claim they are bearing the brunt of binge-drinking as a result. LGA chairman Cllr Margaret Eaton said: ‘The vast majority of local councils, police and hospitals have reported no change at all, with violent incidents generally just being shifted later into the evening. There are the real financial strains that the new laws have had on councils, hospitals and other local services.'
