Key facts
- Downing Street supports 'vertical drinking' in London pubs.
- Westminster City Council proposed draft guidance to discourage standing patrons.
- The council stated its aim is to reduce noise and disorderly behavior by encouraging table service, not to ban standing.
- Politicians including London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Prime Minister Andy Burnham have criticized the council's proposal.
- Pub landlords warn that discouraging standing could harm struggling businesses.
A proposal by Westminster City Council to limit 'vertical drinking'—the practice of standing while consuming alcohol—has sparked a political debate in London. Downing Street has publicly backed the tradition, urging the council to support the hospitality industry. Westminster Council, responsible for licensing in the West End, has clarified that its draft guidance aims to reduce noise and disorder by encouraging table service, not to ban standing.
Council leader Paul Swaddle stated the proposal is part of a draft policy open for public comment, emphasizing that the goal is safety and reducing excessive drunkenness, not prohibiting standing at a bar. This clarification follows widespread criticism from pub landlords and politicians, including London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who argue that discouraging standing could harm businesses and is contrary to British pub culture.
Pub owners like Lesley Lewis of the French House pub in Soho expressed concern that such restrictions would drive customers away. The British Beer and Pub Association also warned of potential negative impacts on struggling pubs. Mayor Khan criticized the council's approach as a 'village-hall mindset' and indicated he might use new powers to review the policy, while Prime Minister Burnham pledged to defend pubs and encourage collaboration between local authorities and the hospitality sector.