London council's 'vertical drinking' ban proposal draws fire

Westminster City Council in London has sparked controversy with a draft policy that could limit "vertical drinking" – the practice of standing at a bar to order and consume drinks. The proposed changes, aimed at pubs and restaurants in the West End, encourage more seating and table service, with the goal of reducing noise and disorder in a district known for its high concentration of licensed venues.

The draft policy suggests that new license applicants should "make more seating available within the licensed premises to prevent excessive drinking and encourage people to sit and enjoy their drinks and order food via table service." It also recommends that alcohol and food sales should be provided by staff. This initiative targets areas like Soho and Leicester Square, which have around 500 pubs and bars and over 1,750 cafes and restaurants, and often experience late-night crowds and noise complaints.

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people talking to each other in a busy pub is not a public nuisance, it is the fabric of everyday life in the UK and is directly linked to thousands of jobs.

However, the proposal has faced significant backlash. A spokesperson for the UK Prime Minister criticized the move, stating that "people talking to each other in a busy pub is not a public nuisance, it is the fabric of everyday life in the UK and is directly linked to thousands of jobs." A spokesperson for London Mayor Sadiq Khan also called it a "policy that stifles growth." Westminster City Council, however, clarified that it does not intend to ban vertical drinking. Council leader Paul Swaddle emphasized that the text is a draft out for public consultation, and its primary aim is to increase table service to curb noise and disorder.

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policy that stifles growth.