THE new 24-hour drinking laws have been a success and supermarkets are to blame for the binge drinking culture. That's the view of some Kent licensing trade officials.

The Government's first review of the legislation that brought in extended licensing hours revealed a "mixed picture". It says crime and alcohol consumption have reduced but drink-related crime has increased with some communities seeing a rise in disorder.

Brian Rees, secretary of the Kent Federation of Licensed Victuallers Association, said: "The new laws have been a success and are not the cause of binge drinking. It doesn’t happen everywhere but only in certain town centres."

Mr Rees believes disruption like binge drinking on the streets is mainly caused by easy access to cheap alcohol from supermarkets and shops and the impact of the drug culture in society.

"Drugs are the biggest threat to the drinks trade because they are now cheaper than alcohol," he said.

"The vast majority of people are high before they even reach pubs and clubs."

Christine Steer, the secretary of the Stewards and Licensed Trades Association, which has more than 60 members across north and mid-Kent, agreed.

"If you go back to my generation we didn’t have shops, supermarkets and petrol stations selling alcohol," she said. "If you wanted a drink you went to the pub.

"Now the landlord dare not touch a misbehaving customer as the authorities would come down like a ton of bricks and they would end up losing their business."

David Ross, the London and Southeast secretary of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: "We have always supported the change in licensing powers as there were problems when the pubs used to close at the same time.

"The police have considerable powers under the new act to deal with violent crime and to deal with problems facing outlets."