The government has done a U-turn so dramatic it would make a black cab driver wince. Pubs and bars in England will be allowed to stay open until 5am for the England versus Mexico friendly, despite ministers previously insisting they had no plans to relax licensing laws any further during the World Cup.
The decision means that on the night of the match, landlords who want to keep the pints flowing into the small hours can apply for a temporary extension through their local councils. It won’t be automatic. Venues will still need to seek approval, so don’t expect every Wetherspoons in the country to suddenly transform into an all-night rave.
The reversal has been met with cautious enthusiasm by the pub trade. The British Beer and Pub Association had been pushing for extended hours throughout the tournament, arguing that the restrictions were costing the industry millions in lost revenue. A late-night England match is, commercially speaking, exactly the kind of event that keeps the lights on.
The initial refusal had baffled many in the hospitality sector, who pointed out that fans would simply watch the match at home or, worse, in unlicensed settings if their local was shuttered by midnight.
The England and Mexico game kicks off at an hour that would already push most sensible people past their bedtime, making the original licensing restrictions feel particularly ill-judged. A 5am closing time gives pubs a fighting chance of capturing the full post-match atmosphere, including all the shouting, hugging, and inevitable debate about whether the manager made the right substitutions.
Critics will argue that loosening alcohol licensing, even temporarily, invites disorder. But the evidence from previous tournament extensions has been decidedly mixed on that front; most nights passed without serious incident, and the goodwill generated among supporters was considerable.
Whether England’s performance on the pitch will justify the late night is, of course, another question entirely. The real test for the government won’t be the licensing hours. It’ll be whether they’ve got enough goodwill banked to survive the national mood if the team goes out on penalties again.
