In response to your article "City pubs closer to all-night opening", I would like to make it clear that Brighton and Hove City Council's - and every other council's - licensing policy has to adhere to national guidance under the Government's new Licensing Act.
The Licensing Act abolishes statutory licensing hours. This new licensing regime will be administered by the council. However, the strong recommendation from Government is for different opening hours to prevent binge drinking and mass exodus on to the streets.
The council will have to grant the opening hours an applicant requests unless there is strong evidence presented to the council that those hours would be contrary to the Government's licensing objectives.
-Councillor Geoffrey Theobald, OBE, Brighton and Hove City Council
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