See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy MARK DUELL, DEPUTY CHIEF REPORTER (DIGITAL) Published: 11:39 BST, 8 June 2026 | Updated: 12:23 BST, 8 June 2026
England football fans will be able to drink on pavements during the World Cup after pubs received support from the Government to serve 'al fresco' pints.Local leaders were also urged to swiftly back as many special screenings and beer garden events as possible for fans in Britain to watch the tournament this summer.'Pavement pints' will face less red tape under proposals to lengthen the two-year licence period for businesses looking to let punters eat and drink on the street.Pubs will be allowed to stay open until 2am if any of the home nations make it to the knockout stage at this summer's tournament, which begins on Thursday.Alcohol will be permitted to be served in pubs until 1am UK time for games kicking off between 5pm and 9pm, and until 2am for those starting between 9pm and 10pm.Any pubs in England and Wales showing an England or Scotland knockout match with a standard 11pm alcohol licence can stay open later without applying for an extension.Many of the games will kick off late at night or in the early hours of the morning given the time difference between the UK and host nations the US, Mexico and Canada. In Britain, local leaders are being asked to quickly deal with as many 'sensible' applications for temporary event notices, which would allow pubs to open later and hold special screenings and events in beer gardens, as possible. England fans celebrate against Sweden at the Rose and Crown pub in Wimbledon in 2018Officials said it would be for councils to ultimately sign off on these and balance them with other factors, but that authorities who unnecessarily block plans would be 'held to account' by Government.It is understood further details about this will be set out in a letter to local leaders from Communities Secretary Steve Reed, who said 'the fun police' should not stand in the way of 'sensible' outdoor celebrations.Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said red tape 'should not get in the way of fans enjoying the game with friends and local pubs doing a great trade too'.'A pavement pint in the sunshine discussing the agony of penalties and soaking up the atmosphere is what pubs are all about and we are backing them,' he added.'Let's hope we get a summer of fans enjoying great England wins on the big screen in packed pub gardens.'Mr Reed said: 'We're asking councils to support as many applications for special events as possible, because the last thing any of us want to see is people being turfed indoors half way through penalties.'So let's show the fun police the red card, get behind England and back our pubs. This time, it really could be coming home.' Street eating and drinking was a regular sight in London's Soho during the pandemic in 2020 Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said ministers were asking councils to apply a 'common sense' approach during knockout matches, with some local authorities imposing closing times based on 'strict noise concerns'.Meanwhile, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) announced plans to change the licensing period for pavement licences in a bid to reduce bureaucracy.Currently, a pavement licence can be granted for a maximum of two years.The Government wants to increase this and said it would confirm details including a maximum term length and plans for legislation in due course.It is also expected to consult on the case for introducing a minimum term for pavement licences, which does not exist at present.A spokesperson for the Local Government Association, which represents councils across England, said: 'Councils support communities coming together to enjoy the World Cup and will be working with pubs and residents to make licensing decisions based on local conditions and community needs.'England's Group L opener is against Croatia in Dallas on June 17 at 9pm BST, before they play Ghana in Boston on June 23 again at 9pm BST and Panama in New Jersey on June 27 at 10pm BST.Scotland will begin the tournament against Haiti in Boston on June 14 at 2am BST, then play Morocco in the same city on June 19 at 11pm BST and travel to Miami to face Brazil on June 24 again at 11pm BST.
