A MAJOR debate on drinking should be held in York in the run-up to pubs being allowed to pull pints around the clock, city council leader Steve Galloway has said.

He has urged groups, including landlords, pub-goers, the police, teetotallers and people living near pubs, to contact the council with their views.

He said: "This is a major issue that will involve a wide range of people across York. There are some fairly serious decisions to be made and we want to know what people think."

A motion is expected to go before next month's full council meeting to start the internal council debate about 24-hour drinking. The Government Act to allow pubs to open all hours has been approved by Parliament, and could come into effect as early as this summer, or possibly some time in 2005.

The Act switches the power for granting licences from magistrates to local authorities.

Coun Galloway said there were advantages to extended licences, but the issue would be handled carefully, with a limit to the number of late licences within the Bar Walls.

He said: "There are premises, particularly those serving food, that we can be relaxed about.

"If there is no evidence of abuse on the premises or off it, particularly regarding the sale of alcohol to minors, we would be fairly relaxed, providing it was not in a residential area. We are becoming a 24-hour city."

But Coun Galloway said there were areas of concern, including the sale of low-cost drinks, and people already drunk being sold more alcohol.

He also raised concerns over the practice of "touting", where pub or club promoters hand out cards in the street to tempt people in, often with offers of cheap drinks.

Coun Galloway said: "The motion to council will plan a debate about the link between alcohol and crime. Having squads of police around the city at 1am on Sunday morning is not the most sensible way of using resources."

Frank Cartin, president of York Licensed Victuallers' Association, said: "It is a good idea to have a debate, but something has to come of it, otherwise there is not a lot of point."

York Police licensing officer PC Dave Boag said the force was already working closely with the council to discuss the new licensing act.

He said that the high number of residential properties in the city centre meant few pubs or bars would be likely to get long licence extensions.

Updated: 10:45 Wednesday, March 31, 2004