The BBC are reporting the NHS opposition to the relaxing of UK licensing laws. If it goes ahead, it would allow pubs and bars to stay open all day.
I can understand the fear here. I'm sure that for the first year or two, the stats on drink related problems will look horrible. Once the novelty wears off though, I think the oh-so-great responsibility the government has given us will see us take a more sensible view to drinking.
The NHS rightly point out that this alone won't stop the chav culture. The relaxation of the nanny state will help, as would some restoration of the sense of belonging. As a nation, we tend to have a cynical love/hate relationship with the state. Of late, that's turned more contemptuous; get the state to be more like us normal people, and it'll all be good.