Government calls on councils to help pubs open earlier for World Cup Final

The government is calling on councils to help pubs serve alcohol earlier in the morning ahead of the Women's World Cup Final on Sunday.

The Lionesses will take on Spain at 11am on 20 August but operators have called for licensing laws to be relaxed to allow them to serve alcohol from 10am, ahead of kick-off.

Pubs can open their doors early but, under current regulations, most will only be able to sell alcoholic drinks after 11am on Sundays.

The government could introduce a blanket change to licensing rules, but this is unlikely to happen as MPs would need to return to Westminster from their summer recess.

Individual pubs can apply to councils to temporarily vary their hours, but this takes five days to process, meaning they would have to have applied last Friday.

"In cases where an application is being rapidly considered to allow a short extension to licensing hours, the government is encouraging local authorities to continue to do everything they can to complete the process in time, working closely with local police forces," a government statement said.

The Home Office is also writing to police chiefs to encourage forces to work with local councils to ensure as many venues as possible can participate.

Chris Jowsey, chief executive of pub group Admiral Taverns, said: "We urge the Prime Minister to allow pubs to open at 10am on Sunday to support our Lionesses and bring communities together to cheer on the team.

"It has been inspiring to watch not only their outstanding achievements on the pitch, but the way it has brought the nation together off the pitch."

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), said: "[As] England enter their first World Cup Final since 1966, we need the Government to step in and allow the necessary regulatory easement to allow pubs to serve the public from 10am on final day, so fan and communities can come together and cheer the Lionesses to victory at the best place to watch live sport, the pub. Where there's a will, there has to be a way."

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