Reform UK Shadow Home Secretary Zia Yusuf has condemned proposals to restrict “vertical drinking” in hundreds of central London pubs, warning that Britain is becoming a more isolated and anti-social country.
Tory-controlled Westminster Council is consulting on new licensing rules for Soho and the West End that could require some venues to serve customers only while seated, rather than at the bar, in a bid to stem what it sees as excessive drinking.
Yusuf said: “Reform UK are pro-pubs. We have made that quite clear.”
He pointed to Reform UK’s plan to cut the burden on hospitality businesses, adding: “We have announced a policy that would massively reduce business rates, for example.”
But Yusuf argued that the issue was bigger than the potential cost to struggling pubs and bars.
“There’s a broader concern here about what kind of Britain young people are growing up in”, he said. “Shared spaces where people can go and socialise with friends are in ever-dwindling supply in this country.”
He continued: “There’s a straight line between that and the mental health crisis for young people - the fact they’re not dating.
“There’s a lot of problems there and I think these things are connected.”
Reform UK Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick also condemned the plans, saying: “Can these councils not focus on collecting bins or cleaning the streets? Politically correct rubbish like this is why so many people gave up on a ‘Conservative’ Party that will just never change.”
The council’s draft policy says licensed venues should discourage “high volume vertical drinking” and increase seating. This would not only undermine Britain’s traditional pub culture, but also reduce capacity and increase costs for businesses already under pressure. The measures could affect hundreds of premises in Westminster and influence other councils to do the same.
Tory-controlled Westminster Council is consulting on new licensing rules for Soho and the West End that could require some venues to serve customers only while seated, rather than at the bar, in a bid to stem what it sees as excessive drinking.
Yusuf said: “Reform UK are pro-pubs. We have made that quite clear.”
He pointed to Reform UK’s plan to cut the burden on hospitality businesses, adding: “We have announced a policy that would massively reduce business rates, for example.”
But Yusuf argued that the issue was bigger than the potential cost to struggling pubs and bars.
“There’s a broader concern here about what kind of Britain young people are growing up in”, he said. “Shared spaces where people can go and socialise with friends are in ever-dwindling supply in this country.”
He continued: “There’s a straight line between that and the mental health crisis for young people - the fact they’re not dating.
“There’s a lot of problems there and I think these things are connected.”
Reform UK Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick also condemned the plans, saying: “Can these councils not focus on collecting bins or cleaning the streets? Politically correct rubbish like this is why so many people gave up on a ‘Conservative’ Party that will just never change.”
The council’s draft policy says licensed venues should discourage “high volume vertical drinking” and increase seating. This would not only undermine Britain’s traditional pub culture, but also reduce capacity and increase costs for businesses already under pressure. The measures could affect hundreds of premises in Westminster and influence other councils to do the same.
Photo by: Mohamed Jamil Latrach.
