pubs and clubs may be able to operate extended hours IF they abided by the laws of RESPONSIBLE ALCHOL SERVICE! How do young people continue to be served drinks when they are CLEARLY ALREADY OVER THE LIMIT? Extreme penalties apply under this law, but they are obviously being ignored.

I live in a small town and the problem is no different here even though the pubs and clubs shut at 12.People just head out to drink earlier with the same result at close time.This would also be the case in the city,people would go out at 6 or 7.i Believe that a limit of drinks should be applied.

Pubs & clubs should closed early. I know of a pub that opens at 11am til midnight, with patrons getting there when they open having there first drink and staying until close. Its not necessary. What happened to responsible service of alcohol?! Its there for a reason, but not being enforced.

Yes & No! there's definately a lot of Pros to closing early, which you've covered in depth, but a few Con's as well Has anybody considered the "Shift worker", I'm a nurse and work the graveyard shift, & I know a few workmates and factory workers who like to have a beer when they knock off! At 7.30am

I agree with the previous comment that the publicans should be enforcing the responsible service of alcohol - perhaps there should be more regulation/peanalties for serving patrons who are already drunk.

The UK has recently changed their pub opening hours as they found that people would consume excessive amounts of alcohol soon before closing time and this was causing problems as everyone spilled out into the street at the same time, seeking more excitement or fighting for taxis

Rather than pretending that if pubs are closed people won'tjust find somewhere else to get drunk, perhaps we could provide entertainment/distractions for patrons. Remember the days when people listened to live music rather than just pouring their wages into the pokies.

It shouldn't matter what time, or for how long pubs are open as long as they adhere to Responsible Serving of Alcohol. More police should be available to patrol pubs and clubs - preferably under cover - and arrest anyone who serves patrons who have obviously had enough to drink.

Having worked as a security guard a few years ago, I know for a fact that when I would tell the bar people not to serve a patron as they had had too much to drink, the manager would override me and tell them to continue to serve him. This behaviour has to stop!

I think that they should be left open, but security be tighter. Perhaps a free fleet of cabs could be posted around the major drinking hotspots to take away drunken patroins at the bequest of the bar manager.