Commenting on reports that the Government is considering revoking 24-hour licensing, Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster MP said:

"Labour have flip-flopped on licensing for far too long. Finally they have realised what we all knew already - their alcohol policies are inadequate, inappropriate and simply aren’t working.

"Liberal Democrats have repeatedly argued that it was ludicrous to introduce 24-hour licensing when binge drinking was already such a problem in the UK.

"Far from a continental café culture, we have seen a surge in alcohol related A&E admissions and a rise in drunken violence.

"A rethink of 24-hour licensing is extremely welcome, but we also need to focus on the sale of cheap alcohol in supermarkets and the enforcement of existing laws if we are to tackle the culture of binge drinking in this country."