Union fears over safety
Unions are worried that extended licensing hours could put bar staff under threat.
Brian Revell, national organiser at the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU), said the main concerns were that staff should be protected from violent customers, that changes to working hours must be voluntary and staff should be provided with transport when travelling home late at night.
Revell said: "All staff face obvious dangers walking home late at night. There should be a legal requirement on owners of licensed premises to provide free transport home."
He added: "Longer opening hours will mean bar staff will be expected to work different hours. The contracts of existing staff must be protected in law, and any change to working hours must be on a voluntary basis."