A still-not-released British government report says two-thirds of bars and clubs expect to stay open past 11 p.m. -- far more than government estimates. A government analysis of the new 24-hour drinking law that allows extended hours forecast more than 35,000 bars and clubs would extend their drinking hours, most of them to about 2 a.m. Prime Minster Tony Blair had estimated just 1 percent or 2 percent would do so, the Sunday Times of London reported. The report, written by Andrew Cunningham, head of licensing at the culture department, also said there could be as many as 10,000 applications for new premises licenses annually compared to 4,200 applications between 1989 and 2001. "Contrary to the government's claims, this demonstrates that this law will have a massive impact on the peace and tranquillity of the lives of many hundreds of thousands of British citizens," said David Davis, shadow home secretary. "And far from solving the binge-drinking problem, it will extend it deep into the night." © Copyright 2005 by United Press International

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