24 Hour Alcohol Licensing Law and Incidence of Facial Injury

A new licensing act, commonly called the "24 hour alcohol licensing law," permits licensed premises under English and Welsh law to close at different times of their choosing. The intent was to reduce the congestion and alcohol-problems injuries and other problems associated with a common closing time.

Previously, "last call" was a time when some drinkers ordered as many drinks as possible and drank them quickly. This sometimes resulted in drunk and disorderly behavior after that time when customers exited at the same time. In Australia, the problem came to be known as the "six o'clock swill."

Data collected at University College Hospital in London before and after the implementation of the new law suggest that the number of head and neck trauma cases has declined since the passage of the new law.