<P> After the outbreak of World War I the Defence of the Realm Act was passed by Parliament in 1914 . One section of the Act concerned the hours pubs could sell alcohol , as it was believed that alcohol consumption would interfere with the war effort . It restricted opening hours for licensed premises to luncheon ( 12 : 00 to 14 : 40 ) and supper ( 18 : 30 to 21 : 30 ) . In the late 1980s the licensing laws in England and Wales became less restricted and allowed pubs to allow the consumption of alcohol on the premises from 11 : 00 until 23 : 00 , although nightclubs were allowed to stay open much later . Significantly revised rules were introduced in November 2005 , when hour limits were scrapped , and pubs were allowed to apply for licences as permissive as `` 24 hours a day '' . In practice , most pubs chose to apply for more restrictive licences . </P>
<P> After the outbreak of World War I the Defence of the Realm Act was passed by Parliament in 1914 . One section of the Act concerned the hours pubs could sell alcohol , as it was believed that alcohol consumption would interfere with the war effort . It restricted opening hours for licensed premises to luncheon ( 12 : 00 to 14 : 40 ) and supper ( 18 : 30 to 21 : 30 ) . In the late 1980s the licensing laws in England and Wales became less restricted and allowed pubs to allow the consumption of alcohol on the premises from 11 : 00 until 23 : 00 , although nightclubs were allowed to stay open much later . Significantly revised rules were introduced in November 2005 , when hour limits were scrapped , and pubs were allowed to apply for licences as permissive as `` 24 hours a day '' . In practice , most pubs chose to apply for more restrictive licences . </P>
when did all day drinking start in england
when did all day drinking start in england
November 2005
November 2005