{"id":67432,"date":"2025-10-09T16:04:32","date_gmt":"2025-10-09T15:04:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/?p=67432"},"modified":"2025-10-10T11:06:45","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T10:06:45","slug":"devons-public-health-leaders-have-significant-concerns-about-extending-licencing-hours","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/devons-public-health-leaders-have-significant-concerns-about-extending-licencing-hours\/","title":{"rendered":"Devon’s public health leaders have ‘significant concerns’ about extending licensing hours"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Both our cabinet member and director of Public Health in Devon have expressed \u2018significant concerns\u2019 following reports that the government is considering extending the licensing hours of pubs into the early hours in a bid to boost economic growth.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This morning (Thursday 9) it was widely reported that pubs, clubs and restaurants could be allowed to extend their opening hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, our cabinet member for Public Health and Steve Brown the service\u2019s director said if the extension was enacted it would significantly impact on the authority\u2019s work to reduce the harm caused by drinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In July our cabinet endorsed a nine-point plan to reduce alcohol deaths in Devon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the data compiled in our latest annual Public Health report,<\/a> alcohol is one of the main causes of preventable ill health, disability, and premature death in Devon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

in Devon alcohol-related deaths have increased by over 18 per cent (2006 \u2013 2023) while deaths of under 75s from alcoholic liver disease\u202fhas increased by\u202fover 40 per cent since (2001 \u2013 2023) and hospital admissions\u202fhave increased by\u202f46 per cent in just seven years (2017 to 2023).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response our cabinet supported nine recommendations which include working with all partners on the development of a Devon alcohol strategy, working with licencing authorities to limit the growth of licenced premises in problem areas, education and prevention work in schools and working with partners on the building blocks for good health including, employment and housing and community safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Councillor Cottle Hunkin said that the move to extend hours would run \u2018counter\u2019 to the government\u2019s stated aim to reduce the harm caused by alcohol.<\/p>\n\n\n

\r\n\t
\r\n

Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, our cabinet member for public health said: <\/p><\/div>\r\n \t\t

\u201cI\u2019m surprised and really disappointed that the government is considering this.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now, in Devon, we are seeing lives being cut short, families losing loved ones and people struggling to hold down a job all because of alcohol.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe harms caused by alcohol are significant with treatment services seeing many more people with established liver disease after years of heavy drinking.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo me it makes no sense to try and boost growth through longer licensing hours when it would increase the availability of alcohol, and put extra pressure on over stretched support, addiction services, emergency services and health and mental health services. It\u2019s these services who have to pick up the pieces. I have no doubt it will impact the most vulnerable and those on the lowest incomes the most. It should remain the right of local councils to decide on opening hours within their specific areas, in consultation with the local community.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/blockquote>\r\n

\r\n\t
\r\n\t\t\"Councillor\r\n
\r\n Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs and Broadband<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n <\/figure>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\n\n
\r\n\t
\r\n

Steve Brown, our director for Public health, said<\/p><\/div>\r\n \t\t

\u201cThe evidence clearly shows that a critical lever for reducing the harm caused by alcohol is our close working relationship with licensing authorities and regulating when and where you can buy alcohol.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe harm caused by alcohol comes in many forms and extends beyond physical health; it affects relationships, employment, and financial stability and harms families and communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs Director of Public Health I will be contributing a response to the government \u2018Call for Evidence\u2019, as well as liaising with my regional colleagues to raise our concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/blockquote>\r\n \r\n <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":859,"featured_media":67433,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2144],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-public-health"],"acf":[],"featured_image":{"ID":67433,"title":"Copy of hero image for news website 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