Pub hours shake-up revealed next week
By James Hardy Political Editor
PUBS and clubs will be allowed to stay open round-the-clock under a planned radical change of Britain's outdated licensing(许可证发放)laws.
Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday revealed a Bill(议案)to bring in the long-awaited improvement will be contained in the Queen's Speech next week．Some public bars and clubs could be open all hours while others could choose different closing times into the early hours.
Police forces around the country have said different closing times will mean the explosion in violence and vandalism(破坏行为)after 11p.m.-when aggressive drunks are sent out at the same time．
The move will be opposed by some MPs(下院议员)who fear it will lead to increased alcoholism,drunken behavior and crime．But ministers say there will be controls on which pubs and clubs are allowed to open 24 hours a day.
Places which consistently attract violent drunks and troublemakers will be turned down.
Mr．Blair said:"We believe there should be greater flexibility in licensing．In the end,the evidence that we have is that it may help in the fight against anti-social behavior．At the moment the very fixed nature of the hours sometimes means that you get particular problems outside pubs and city centers at particular hours of the evening."
The big change will be accompanied by a strict action on petty criminals who cause misery to urban and rural communities.
In a bid to prevent criticism of the licensing improvement,the Govenment is to extend on-the-spot fines to a range of offences from vandalism.
The PM said yesterday petty crime was the single biggest cause of daily aggressive behavior for millions.
Underlined words"petty crime"in the last paragraph means
A根据第三段、第四段、第八段等，可以判断这里提到的犯罪是指酒后的、扰乱社会治安等的行为，因此不是特别严重的。
