Under new powers for local residents due to be announced today, Pubs and clubs could been prevented from late night opening through the impact of drunkenness and noise on the wider community. New venues could be refused a licence if local people think that there are too many premises in the area and their neighbourhoods are being adversely affected.

The new move will put an end to the rule that members of the public can only object to opening hours or new licensing applications if they are neighbours of the premises.

The new moves are part of a wide-ranging revision of licensing laws to be announced by the Home Secretary which will bring an end to 24 hour drinking.

Objections to applications will be allowed “regardless of geographic proximity” as long as the objector is able to explain how they would be affected by alcohol-related problems, which means that residents could oppose new bars or extended hours at venues that are several miles away provided they can argue that it would affect them or their community.

Councils will still be allowed to decide, but the final decision is expected to have high regard for the concerns of the community.

As disclosed by The Daily Telegraph last week, the announcement will also include plans to allow councils to ban opening after midnight in any problem areas.

Other proposed measures include a ban on shops selling alcohol at below cost price and a “late-night” levy on some pubs and clubs that will contribute towards the extra cost of policing, and increased powers to close shops or bars that serve children repeatedly for up to a week, while fines for selling alcohol to those who are underage would be doubled.

The Home Secretary said:

“The benefits promised by the 24 hour drinking ‘café culture’ have failed to materialise and in its place we have seen an increase in the number of alcohol related incidents and drink-fuelled crime and disorder.

“We know that the majority of pubs and bars are well run business but the Government believes that the system needs to be rebalanced in favour of the local communities they serve with tougher action taken to crack down on the small number of premises who cause problems.”

Alcohol-related crime and disorder to the taxpayer is estimated to be between £8 and £13billion.

Jon Stoddart, who speaks on licensing for the Association of Chief Police Officers, said:

“Any proposals to deal with the problem of excessive drinking and the associated problems of violence and disorder are welcomed by the Police Service.

“Nationally there are over one million alcohol fuelled violent assaults every year and drinking is a key factor in many domestic-related assaults. It has a major impact on people’s lives, local communities and, of course, police resources.”

John Thornhill, chairman of the Magistrates’ Association said,

“The Magistrates’ Association always believed that transferring control of licensing to local councils and away from the courts was a mistake.

“There has been a failure to produce any national control over personal licence holders and this has resulted in a more expensive and less satisfactory system than before the Act came into force”