The Licensing Act 2003: A Case Study

The origin of alcohol consumption dates back to the post-war era where drinking was a part of most individual 's day to day life as there were not many other sources of entertainment (Johnson, 2015). Alcohol was produced at both high and low prices, therefore making it available to both segments of the society. This resulted in alcohol being a celebratory and cultural activity in the United Kingdom. Increasing consumption of alcohol has been a prominent concern to the UK government as over progressive increment in the rate of crime over the last few decades (Smith and Fox, 2009). Binge drinking is when an individual excessively consumes alcohol over a short period. Apprehending of binge drinking among different people may be obscure and ambiguous

The government of the United Kingdom in concern with public health and safety undertook harm reduction strategies and monitored changes in alcohol consumption to identify traits of use of alcohol with other critical factors. The Licensing Act 2003 prompted the retro perspective of drinking. The Act was initiated at the end of 2005 and abolished the set licensing hours. The aim was to remove the strict system of fixed hours along with other government initiatives and have a progressive approach to making the United Kingdom a more liberated country. The Act also declared more duties to the authorities as they replaced the statutory licensed hours and were fixed according to local licensees if it sufficed to the four objectives of the Act itself. The Licensing Act 2003 consecutively led to an increase in the consumption of alcohol, but there was a reduction in the rate of crime for the first few years. The role of prioritization by the government would be rather ambiguous and enigmatic considering if they wanted the Licensing Act 2003 to maintain the crime rates as an alcohol reduction strategy or to increase their revenues through the value-added tax on alcoholic products and other related products. Many scholars argue that policy makers fixate policies on the demand and supply for alcohol and thereby indirectly boosting the consumption of alcohol. Haydock (2004) describes policies towards alcohol as "government endorsed pleasure." The facts show that alcohol is a

In conclusion, the alcohol industry has been soaring to its peaks in contrast to the prior times, and it is hard to determine a sole factor that could contribute to the incline in the alcohol consumption as a whole. Whether it was a historical tradition that gradually became more accepted by the society in collaboration with religion or whether policy makers rendered its route into the economically driven markets prioritizing either the government revenues or the public safety. Technology and advancement amidst media and marketing of alcoholic beverages and brands have led to a drastic increase in the consumption of alcohol. Consumption of alcohol has also become a cultural hegemony further wandering into the Eastern part of the world, and other developing countries that may someday be more adapting to new ideas and norms with growing media and technology. The alcohol industry is booming with the producer - consumer relationship, media portraying it in adverse and favourable manner, while technology is bringing innovation, marketing, supply altogether and finally the government amending its every