An era comes to an end.

Mark is as official, after years of hang wringing that Brits have finally okayed allowing pubs to stay open past 11 o'clock. In fact they will allow 24hr drinking. This article is funny in how it shows how entrenched those for and against the extended hours are. Those for the extension say that since longer hours allow people more time to drink they won't feel the need to drink as fast, thereby causing a reduction in alcohol related problems. Ha! Those against the extension say that blood will run in the streets as everyone in England becomes a disfunctional drunk. That would be different how?

As for myself I enjoyed the 11 o'clock closings. It got me back to the hostel at a reasonable time so I could get some good sleep and not feel hung over as I do after crawling home at 3am here in the states. However I imagine may pubs will keep the 11 o'clock closing except for maybe Friday and Saturday nights. Many pubs are owner operator so to stay open they'd have to hire someone or get home much later themselves. While we'll have to see how it all works out in the coming years as their drinking culture and late night grease pits (re: chippies) adapt to the new rules, I imagine outside of the big cities a lucky traveler may still get the chance to experience the joys of the "lock in".