Later licensing hours linked to rise in alcohol‑related ambulance call‑outs and crime

A new study has found that extending late‑night alcohol sales in Aberdeen led to measurable increases in alcohol‑related ambulance call‑outs and reported crime, offering fresh evidence for policymakers considering changes to night‑time licensing.

Published in BMJ Public Health, the research analysed data from March 2017 to October 2020 after licensing boards in Aberdeen and Glasgow approved later closing times for selected venues. In Aberdeen, 38 pubs and bars were permitted to sell alcohol until 3am. Glasgow granted extensions to 10 nightclubs, allowing them to remain open until 4am.

Researchers reported that Aberdeen experienced an 11.4% rise in alcohol‑related ambulance call‑outs on weekend nights, equating to an average increase of 4.6 additional weekly incidents. Reported crime also rose by 8.5%, with an average of 3.4 extra weekly offences. The peak time for ambulance call‑outs shifted from midnight–1am to 1am–2am, with higher volumes occurring later into the night. The increase was most pronounced among men and people aged under 45.

The study suggests that extended trading hours may influence drinking behaviours and the timing of alcohol‑related harm. Researchers noted that Scotland recorded more than 31,000 alcohol‑specific hospital admissions between 2022 and 2023, underscoring the pressure on emergency and health services.

In Glasgow, however, the study did not identify measurable increases in ambulance call‑outs or crime linked to the licensing changes. The authors suggest this may reflect differences in scale, venue type and safety requirements: only nightclubs meeting specific conditions were eligible for the later closing time.

Dr Inês Henriques‑Cadby, co‑author from The University of Manchester, said the findings provide national evidence to inform licensing decisions, moving debates “beyond assumptions” and grounding them in real‑world data. Professor Niamh Fitzgerald, Principal Investigator at the University of Stirling, said the results show that large‑scale extensions can increase health harms and crime, adding that Glasgow stakeholders reported frontline strain even without measurable statistical increases.

The research forms part of the NIHR‑funded ELEPHANT project, involving multiple universities, NHS partners and the Scottish Ambulance Service. The authors argue that the scale and type of venues receiving extended hours should be central considerations for future licensing policy, noting that international evidence has linked reduced late‑night trading hours with decreases in alcohol‑related harm.