01/10/2010 - Alcohol licences hit record high
There are now more premises licensed to sell alcohol in Britain than ever before, according to official figures released by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
According to the DCMS, there are 202,000 licensed pubs, clubs, off-licences and corner shops selling alcohol in Britain, compared with 198,000 in 2009.
The 2% rise was fuelled by a significant increase in the number of premises licensed to sell alcohol off-site, including off-licences, stores and supermarkets. The number of these premises has doubled in the last 50 years, and was up to 48,700 from 47,500 last year.
The statistics were based on a 99% response from local authorities which recorded 199,700 licensed premises being in operation in Britain. Cornwall Unitary Authority had the highest number of licences with 3,067, followed by Westminster (3,029).
The number of 24-hour alcohol licences in England and Wales rose 4% to 7,800 in 2010, compared with 7,600 in the previous year.
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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