March 4 (Bloomberg) -- The U.K. government will keep a law that permits pubs to stay open 24 hours, refusing to bow to pressure from opponents who say the measure led to an increase in drunken violence.

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham told Parliament today the government instead will crack down on rowdy bars and stores that sell liquor to people under 18. An eight-month review of the Licensing Act found that crime and alcohol consumption had declined since round-the-clock opening hours were introduced in November 2005.

``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,'' Burnham said in a written statement. ``There is a need to rebalance action towards enforcement and crack down on irresponsible behavior.''

The law was relaxed under former Prime Minister Tony Blair in an effort to encourage more measured drinking habits. Previously, most pubs closed at 11 p.m., forcing patrons onto the streets at the same time. Critics including doctors, judges and the main opposition Conservative Party said longer opening hours led to longer drinking sessions and fueled night-time violence.

``The damning evidence against the government's 24-hour drinking policy is overwhelming and comes from all sides,'' said David Davis, the Conservatives' law and order spokesman.

Night-Time Violence

While violence has fallen over the night time and evening periods, there has been an increase in offenses, including violent crimes, between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m., Burnham said.

Premises risk losing their licenses if they ignore warnings to curb violence under a proposed ``yellow card and red card'' alert system, Burnham said. Vendors caught selling alcohol to people younger than 18 twice in three months will lose their license. The current limit is three offenses.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith will propose legislation to increase the maximum fine for people who refuse an order to stop drinking to 2,500 pounds ($4,968) from 500 pounds, Burnham said.

Government figures show that at the end of March 2007, there were 5,100 premises in England and Wales with 24-hour licenses, fewer than 4 percent of all premises. They included 3,300 hotel bars, 920 supermarkets and 470 pubs, bars and nightclubs.

Brown, who ordered the review after taking office in June, and Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling are facing calls from anti-drinking campaigners to boost taxes on alcoholic drinks in the annual budget on March 12.

Price Controls

Tesco Plc, the U.K.'s largest supermarket chain, said Feb. 21 it is willing to discuss controls on alcohol prices. Asda, Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s U.K. supermarket chain, said it may prosecute underage people trying to buy alcohol in its stores and ask anyone who appears younger than 25 for proof of age.

Britons are more prone to excessive drinking than any other country in Western Europe, according to a 2006 survey by Datamonitor Plc. On a typical night out, they consume 6.3 units of alcohol, 24 percent more than the average European rate of 5.1 units, the survey showed.

To contact the reporter on this story: Kitty Donaldson in London at kdonaldson1@bloomberg.net or Gonzalo Vina in London at gvina@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: March 4, 2008 12:31 EST