**Government Rules Out Extended Pub Hours for England v Mexico World Cup Match**
The UK government has decided against extending pub opening hours for the upcoming World Cup match between England and Mexico, which is set to kick off at 1am UK time on Sunday night. This decision was confirmed during a session in the House of Commons, where Liberal Democrat MP Max Wilkinson raised the issue, suggesting that extending licensing laws could allow fans to gather in pubs to watch the game.
Wilkinson emphasized the potential economic benefits for pubs, stating, "Pubs will miss out on a real opportunity to get money in the till if ministers do not make a blanket extension for licensing hours." However, Business Minister Kate Dearden responded by clarifying that while the government has previously relaxed licensing laws for later matches, they would not be extended further for this particular late-night fixture.
Dearden explained that pubs are allowed to remain open for an additional two to three hours based on the timing of the match, which means they can continue to serve patrons until the game concludes. Unfortunately, this flexibility does not apply to the 1am start time on Sunday. "Regarding Sunday, unfortunately that doesn't apply with the 1am start," Dearden noted, but she reassured that the government remains committed to supporting pubs in the future.
In April, the government had already made adjustments to licensing regulations, allowing fans of England and Scotland to watch matches in pubs by extending the closing time from 11pm to 1am for games starting between 5pm and 9pm. For kick-offs after 9pm, pubs can remain open until 2am. However, outside of these established rules, pubs have the option to apply for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) to extend their hours. This application must be submitted at least five working days in advance, making it impossible for many pubs to secure the necessary permissions in time for the England-Mexico match.
Some establishments had anticipated England's progression in the tournament and had already applied for and received TENs for other matches. Emma McClarkin, the chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, expressed concern over the situation, stating, "We remain in close contact with government about concerns raised by publicans who want to show the match but haven't got TENs in place. It would be a crying shame for fans and pubs if our locals weren't able to host such an important match."
As the match approaches, many fans and pub owners are left disappointed by the government's decision, which limits the opportunity for communal viewing of a significant sporting event. The England v Mexico match is expected to draw considerable interest, and the inability to extend pub hours may impact both fan experience and pub revenues during this crucial time in the World Cup tournament.