Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Pubs are among Soho's main attractions
ByHarry LowLondon- Published49 minutes ago
It has been claimed so-called vertical drinking is under threat in the heart of London's West End.
But is it true?
What is vertical drinking?
In short: standing up to have a drink, often outside.
The borough of Westminster has more licensed venues than anywhere else in the UK with about 500 pubs, bars and wine bars, and roughly 1,750 cafes and restaurants.
Why is this being discussed?
It follows a report on page three of Thursday's Guardian newspaper, headlined "Time at the bar? Council accused of trying to stop pubs being pubs with 'no standing' plan". The headline in its online version of the story has since been tweaked, external.
By 1 October, Westminster City Council (WCC) needs to update its current licensing policy - drawn up in 2021.
It has therefore published draft proposals as part of a consultation which closes on Sunday, external, which the Guardian report was based on.
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, London's five heatwaves this year have encouraged more outdoor drinking
What is being proposed?
In the draft plans, WCC said it wants to "discourage excessive drunkenness and encourage the provision of more seating in premises that serve alcohol for people to sit and enjoy a drink and order food by table service in place of open bar space that caters for high volume vertical drinking".
One policy is to refuse pub, bar, fast food or music venue licences in an area known as the West End cumulative impact zone: an area roughly between Oxford Street and Trafalgar Square, taking in Leicester Square and Soho.
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"The introduction of measures to reduce the extent of, or to remove opportunities for, vertical drinking could address the underlying reasons for the policy," the document reads.
The guidance suggests applicants for new licences should aim for "a predominantly seated operation with fixed seating", alongside waiter service replacing vertical drinking and restrictions on customers consuming alcohol while standing.
What has the council said?
WCC insists there is no plan to ban pub-goers in Soho from drinking while standing up, branding reporting of anything of that nature "utterly ludicrous".
Tim Barnes, WCC deputy leader and cabinet member for growth and planning, said: "There is no plan, and never has been, to ban drinking while standing up in a Westminster pub.
"Suggesting otherwise is a wilful misreading of the policy proposals with clauses taken out of context.
"We want people to go out in the West End and have a good time. Our guidance is simply about encouraging venues to manage their customers so people don't pack on to pavements or excessive drinking doesn't disturb others passing by."
What have other politicians said?
Responding to the Conservative council's consultation, a spokesperson for Labour-run No 10 said: "Busy pubs full of people talking to each other is not a public nuisance, it is British life and it is thousands of jobs.
"Soho did not become world famous by taking last orders early, switching the lights off at 10 o'clock."
The Labour mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, added, external that "you can't run a world-famous nightlife district with a village-hall mindset".
A Conservative Party spokesperson called for WCC to strike a balance between the night-time economy and concerns from neighbours.
What have locals said?
A spokesperson for Soho Business Alliance, which represents businesses in the area, said WCC "don't want the late-night economy" and accused it of "trying to reduce the capacities in these venues".
They added: "It's been like that for years where people are standing and drinking, it's not causing crime, it's not causing issues.
"It's them trying to change the nature of Soho and it's quite sad that they've gone to such lengths to sanitise the area."
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Local community organisation, the Soho Society, has previously stated that "alcohol-related harm, including risks to women and vulnerable people at night, must be considered" in decisions on licensing.
It has concerns that "the unmanaged cumulative impact of a high concentration of licensed premises in a small area on Soho's whole ecosystem, including crime, anti-social behaviour, public safety, public nuisance and the day-to-day functioning of the area".
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