A York licensing officer today urged the British authorities to call time on Happy Hour.

Speaking at the first Association of Chief Police Officers National Licensing Conference held at the Royal York Hotel today, PC Arthur Swaine, of York Licensing Department, said the practice of discounting alcohol should be outlawed.

PC Swaine said financial pressures often led publicans to dispense with the original concept of a family pub - as originally agreed with the licensing magistrate - in favour of "a discount alcohol store", which was only a few steps away from being a night-club.

"This type of slippery slide happens fastest when pressure is put upon the manager or manageress to up the takings," he said.

"Suddenly we get a happy hour and then three happy hours, then happy week, happy month and so on until our once haven of calm and tranquillity is just one great big full-time discount alcohol store.

"Let's face it, most well-run pubs-come-cafe bars don't need this.

"Society certainly doesn't need this - so why not write it into the license that no discounting of alcoholic drinks is allowed?"

Other conditions were also suggested for inclusion in the licence, including compulsory membership of the pub watch scheme and a limit on the numbers of drinkers allowed in.

PC Swaine also advocated educating the young through the provision of more dry pubs, which would allow youngsters to get used to the environment of a local but without alcohol.

"Pubs don't have to be beer-soaked breeding grounds for violent head-bangers," said PC Swaine.

"Teach that to youngsters and we score a significant victory."

Earlier, Home Office minister George Howarth, told delegates at the conference of his intention to "blow away the cobwebs in British life by modernising the liquor licensing system".

"There is widespread dissatisfaction with the existing licensing system," Mr Howarth told more than 250 delegates at the conference.

"It's clear that the 1964 act is struggling to keep abreast of modern developments.

"The thing that has particularly struck me is that calls for reform have come from every side."

Mr Howarth said he would be concentrating on four main areas:

Types of licence;

Opening hours;

Control and sanctions;

Procedures.

North Yorkshire's chief constable, David Kenworthy, praised the approach taken to tackling drink-related disorder in York which he said was in the vanguard of best practice.

"I cannot speak too highly of all those involved in licensing issues in this city," he said.

"There has been a 40 per cent reduction in drink-related disorder in York in the past four years, which is a cause for celebration."

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