The number of yobs fined for being drunk and disorderly has risen by two thirds since 2004, yet the Government still refuses to reverse its decision to allow all-day drinking.
Official Government figures show that the £80 penalty notices have risen from 26,609 in 2004 to 43,556 in 2006. Labour introduced 24-hour drinking in November 2005.
Following a review of all-day drinking laws the Government abandoned plans for a U-turn, claiming that there had been no significant increase in drink-related crime.
A recent police crack-down on teen binge drinking recovered 44,000 pints of alcohol from under-age children.
Shadow Home Secretary, David Davis, obtained the figures on fines from the Government. He said: “It’s bad enough so many people are getting away with a serious offence with the equivalent of a parking ticket.
“It is a real insult to those who suffer at the hands of drink-fuelled anti-social behaviour that barely half of these are paid.”