Laws allowing pubs in Great Britain to serve alcohol 24 hours a day will remain in effect despite complaints that the policy has led to increases in alcohol-related violence and other problems, Bloomberg reported March 4.

However, British officials are promising to crack down on bars and retailers that sell alcohol to youths under age 18, and heftier fines are being proposed for those who refuse an order to stop drinking.

An official review of the Licensing Act reported that alcohol-related crime and alcohol consumption have declined since 24-hour service was permitted in November 2005, in part to prevent violence as patrons poured out of pubs at the previous 11 p.m. closing time.

"Our main conclusion is that people are using the freedoms but people are not sufficiently using the considerable powers granted by the Act to tackle problems," said U.K. Culture Secretary Andy Burnham. "There is a need to rebalance action towards enforcement and crack down on irresponsible behavior."

However, critics say that the law has led to an increase in crime between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. "The damning evidence against the government's 24-hour drinking policy is overwhelming and comes from all sides," said David Davis, a spokesperson for the opposition Conservative party.