England and Wales pubs allowed to stay open until 5 a.m. for England-Mexico World Cup match

The UK government announced Thursday that pubs and licensed premises in England and Wales will be permitted to remain open until 5 a.m. on Monday, 6 July, for the England versus Mexico World Cup match. The match is scheduled to kick off at 1 a.m.

UK time at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. England’s progression to the knockout stages was confirmed on Wednesday evening. A No 10 spokeswoman stated that plans were announced as quickly as possible after qualification and that the government had engaged with policing partners throughout preparations for the World Cup.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council issued a joint statement from Chief Constable Mark Roberts, NPCC lead for football policing, and Acting Chief Constable Scott Green, NPCC lead for alcohol licensing and harm reduction. ” It noted that knockout games have previously seen increases in violent incidents and domestic abuse linked to alcohol consumption.

Andy Trotter, former deputy assistant commissioner at the Metropolitan Police, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that officers will have to prepare for the event.

He said potential issues could arise as people leave pubs at 4 or 5 a.m. and encounter morning commuters, and that the late notice would require last-minute shift changes for police forces. This marks the first relaxation of alcohol licensing hours for the round of 32 and 16 in a decade.

In February the government confirmed that pubs could stay open until 2 a.m. if any home nation reached the knockout stages. The British Beer and Pub Association estimates each World Cup game generates an extra £2.5 m to £5 m for the hospitality industry.

An England appearance in the final would raise an estimated extra £275 m in sales, with fans drinking 55 million more pints.