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Extending late-night opening hours for pubs and bars can lead to a significant increase in alcohol-related ambulance call-outs and reported crime, according to new research involving the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG).

The study, the first of its kind in the UK, examined the impact of extended licensing hours in bars and clubs across Aberdeen and Glasgow. The findings, published in BMJ Public Health, emerged from research led by the University of Glasgow and form part of the wider ELEPHANT project (Evaluating Later and Expanded Premises Hours for Alcohol in the Night-time Economy). This collaboration is led by the University of Stirling, with SARG heading up the health economic modelling component.

Contrasting impacts in Aberdeen and Glasgow

In Aberdeen, where 38 venues were granted late-night extensions of up to three hours, alcohol-related ambulance call-outs rose by 11.4% on weekend nights. This was accompanied by an 8.5% rise in reported crimes between March 2017 and October 2020.

Researchers also found that peak demand for alcohol-related ambulances shifted an hour later into the night, moving from midnight to 1am to between 1am to 2am. This suggests that extended trading hours directly altered local drinking patterns, with the impact found to be most pronounced among men and those aged under 45.

In contrast, no comparable rise in emergencies or crime was observed in Glasgow, where only ten nightclubs were granted a one-hour extension to 4am. 

Researchers suggest the differing outcomes between the two cities may be explained by the relatively large number of venues affected in Aberdeen, the longer extension in hours granted to some venues, or the type of premises granting the extra hours. In Glasgow, eligibility was strictly limited to nightclubs that had already implemented specific safety measures.

Implications for public health, the economy, and the emergency services

Colin Angus, Professor of Alcohol Policy at the Sheffield Addictions Research Group, noted that the research arrives at a critical time:

"This research is particularly important, given the government's plans to extend pub opening hours in England and Wales. Our findings indicate that such changes are likely to have significant negative consequences for public health and place additional strain on emergency services. 

"In additional research from the same project, we also found no evidence that extended trading hours had meaningful economic benefits for the pubs, bars and clubs themselves. Overall this provides a compelling picture that increasing longer opening hours for pubs, bars and nightclubs is unlikely to revitalise the night-time economy, but will place a substantial additional burden on already over-stretched ambulance and police services."

Managing alcohol-related harm in the night-time economy

Alcohol-related harm remains heavily concentrated late at night, particularly at weekends when higher intoxication levels contribute to injuries and violence. In Scotland, there were more than 31,000 alcohol-specific hospital admissions between 2022 and 2023, while previous estimates suggest alcohol is involved in around 16% of ambulance call-outs.

Dr Md Nurnabi Sheikh, Research Associate at the University of Glasgow's School of Health and Wellbeing, said:

"This research is the first in the UK to look at the impact of later trading times on ambulance call-outs, and our findings in Aberdeen demonstrate a clear link between additional opening hours and increased negative outcomes.

"The significant negative impact on both alcohol-related ambulance call-outs and reported crimes in Aberdeen, where more pub and bar premises had longer extensions, highlights the need to consider both the number and types of venues that can operate extended opening times."

A version of this story also appears on the University of Sheffield website.

Paper reference:

Sheikh N, Lewsey J, Henriques-Cadby I, Angus C, Manca F, Haghpanahan H, et al (2026) Impact of later trading hours for bars and clubs on alcohol-related ambulance call-outs and crimes in Scotland: a controlled interrupted time series study BMJ Public Health DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjph-2025-003722