page_title: Alcohol licensing laws of the United Kingdom
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Alcohol licensing laws of the United Kingdom / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Gin Lane, from Beer Street and Gin Lane The accompanying poem, not printed in this reissue, reads: Gin, cursed Fiend, with Fury fraught, &#160;&#160;&#160;Makes human Race a Prey. It enters by a deadly Draught &#160;&#160;&#160;And steals our Life away. Virtue and Truth, driv'n to Despair &#160;&#160;&#160;Its Rage compells to fly, But cherishes with hellish Care &#160;&#160;&#160;Theft, Murder, Perjury. Damned Cup! that on the Vitals preys &#160;&#160;&#160;That liquid Fire contains, Which Madness to the heart conveys, &#160;&#160;&#160;And rolls it thro' the Veins. Français&#160;: La rue du Gin. Gravure accompagnée d'un poème dans sa première édition. Traduction du poème: "Le gin, maudit démon, empli de furie, &#160;&#160;&#160;Fait de la race humaine une proie. Il rentre en une gorgée mortelle, &#160;&#160;&#160;Et vole a vie, La Vertu et la vérité, menées au désespoir, &#160;&#160;&#160;Sa rage les fait fuir, Mais il chérit avec un attention infernale, &#160;&#160;&#160;Le vol, le meurtre et le parjure. Maudite coupe, qui happe les vivants, &#160;&#160;&#160;Ce liquide contient un feu, Dont il mène la folie au coeur, &#160;&#160;&#160;Et et le guide dans les veines." Español: Gin Lane ("El callejón de la ginebra" - 1751), del pintor y grabador William Hogarth, donde se ilustran los estragos y excesos de la ginebra en la Inglaterra del siglo XVIII. La primera edición de este grabado fue acompañada por un poema, cuya traducción al español sería la siguiente&#160;: "La ginebra, maldito demonio, lleno de furia, &#160;&#160;&#160;Que hace de la raza humana su presa. Que entra en un trago mortal, &#160;&#160;&#160;Y vuela la vida, La virtud y la verdad, llevadas a la desesperación, &#160;&#160;&#160;Su rabia las hace huir, Pero ama con atención infernal, &#160;&#160;&#160;El robo, el homicidio, y el perjurio. Maldita copa, que atrapa a los vivientes, &#160;&#160;&#160;Ese líquido contiene un fuego, Que lleva su locura al corazón, &#160;&#160;&#160;Y le guía en las venas."
context_page_description: The alcohol licensing laws of the United Kingdom regulate the sale and consumption of alcohol, with separate legislation for England, Wales Northern Ireland and Scotland being passed, as necessary, by the UK parliament, the Senedd in Wales, the Northern Ireland Assembly, and the Scottish Parliament respectively.
  Throughout the United Kingdom, the sale of alcohol is restricted—pubs, restaurants, shops and other premises must be licensed by the local authority. In England, Wales and Scotland the authority to sell alcohol is divided into two parts – the Premises Licence, which prescribes the times and conditions under which alcohol can be sold, and a Personal Licence which allows individuals to sell alcohol or authorise its sale by others. Every Premises Licence which authorises the sale of alcohol must also name a Designated Premises Supervisor who must hold a valid Personal Licence – otherwise alcohol cannot be sold at those premises. The DPS has day-to-day responsibility for the sale of alcohol at licensed premises. Premises licences, in as far as they concern the sale of alcohol, can be categorised to include on-licences and off-licences.
context_section_description: In the mid-18th century, gin became extremely popular as it was much cheaper to buy than beer. This was known as the 'gin epidemic'. By 1740, six times more gin than beer was being produced, and of the 15,000 drinking establishments in London, half were gin-shops. The Gin Act 1736 imposed a prohibitively high duty on gin, but this caused rioting, and so the duty was gradually reduced and then abolished in 1742. The Gin Act 1751 was more successful: instead of a tax it restricted gin producers to selling only to licensed premises.
  During the 19th century, licensing laws began to restrict the opening hours of premises. The Sunday Closing (Wales) Act 1881 required the closure of all public houses in Wales on Sundays.
  After the outbreak of World War I the Defence of the Realm Act was passed by Parliament in 1914. One section of the Act concerned the hours pubs could sell alcohol, as it was believed that alcohol consumption would interfere with the war effort. It restricted opening hours for licensed premises to luncheon (12:00 to 14:40) and supper (18:30 to 22:30). In the late 1980s the licensing laws in England and Wales became less restricted and allowed pubs to allow the consumption of alcohol on the premises from 11:00 until 23:00, although nightclubs were allowed to stay open much later. Significantly revised rules were introduced in November 2005, when hour limits were scrapped, and pubs were allowed to apply for licences as permissive as "24 hours a day". In practice, most pubs chose not to apply for licences past midnight.
  Traditionally, the phrase "Last orders!" is still often used to announce the last opportunity to purchase drinks, typically ten or fifteen minutes in advance and is often announced via a bell. At the point when the bar will no longer serve drinks, the bar staff will announce "Time Please!" (Traditionally "Time, gentlemen, please!"), again, either shouted or by use of a bell.
  The wartime restrictions in Scotland were not repealed until 1976. As a result, Scottish laws were generally less restrictive, with local authorities being allowed to determine opening hours. Most Scottish pubs now open until midnight, though this is not universal.
caption: Hogarth's Gin Lane, 1750
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