Manchester mayor calls for alcohol sales to be banned in stores after 9pm

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A new 9pm curfew on alcohol sales in shops could prevent the rush to off-licences after the pubs close, according to Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.

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Burnham is calling for an urgent review of the 10pm curfew on pubs, bars and restaurants, which is leading to city centres being flooded with people, a rush to off-licences, and creating an incentive for people to gather in each others’ homes.

His call came after footage showed crowds gathering in city centres on Saturday night and people queuing outside shops to buy more alcohol.

Burnham told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I received reports that the supermarkets were absolutely packed out to the rafters with people gathering, I think there needs to be an urgent review of the emerging evidence from police forces across the country.

“My gut feeling is that this curfew is doing more harm than good. It creates an incentive for people to gather in the street or more probably to gather in the home. That is the opposite of what our local restrictions here are trying to do. I don’t think this has been fully thought through.”

Lawrence Hunt & Co, who runs a chain of Spar shops in north-west England, decided to temporarily close all of its stores at 10pm – in line with pubs and restaurants.

Usdaw general secretary, Paddy Lillis, told the BBC the current situation had left him “deeply concerned” for staff. He urged the government and councils in England to “ensure that when they bring in new rules they consider the impact on retail and the staff”.

He added: “Stores in town and city centres are particularly at risk of becoming very busy late at night and that could make it more difficult for our members to enforce social distancing, which is essential for keeping staff and customers safe.”

Health minister, Helen Whately, told the BBC that the government was keeping an “open mind” about the new coronavirus regulations.