Study says some bars use 'tricks' to get people to drink more

Police told the BBC Wales' Week In Week Out programme that officers were working longer and harder shifts to ensure a high visibility presence and public safety.

But there was concern about what happens when extra money runs out.

The Royal College of Physicians said extended opening hours also had a knock-on effect for casualty units.

Extra funding has been given to police to help see them through the birthing period of the new laws, helping to keep more officers on the streets for the longer hours.

Supt Pat Tucker of South Wales Police told the programme: "That does cost money, it has meant that officers working nights are working a much more active and much longer shift

"So it does put pressure on individual officers and all the systems that support them".

Police say officers are having to work longer and harder

There are concerns over what will happen when the extra funding is stopped.

South Wales Police said there are other funding sources which it may have to use to maintain current standards.

The extra drinking hours have also had an effect on accident and emergency departments.

Professor Ian Gilmore, chairman of the alcohol committee at the Royal College of Physicians, said: "Where there used to be a peak at perhaps 2am I think the problems are now going throughout the night, and that does cause us some startling problems, in knowing when to gear ourselves up for the biggest problems".

The new licensing act has also outlawed irresponsible drinks promotions.

But a study of 12 bars run by the main pub chains by Week in Week Out found that many were using tricks to get customers to drink more.

One former bar worker, who wished to remain anonymous, told the programme:" If someone ordered a glass of wine, we would nod and say - 'is that a large glass?', and that would simply really, make people order the large glass.

"Also we always offer doubles rather than ever offering a single.

"On busy nights, such as weekend nights, we would have competitions about which member of staff could sell the most large drinks, and we would win a bottle of wine or they would give gift vouchers or something like that."

Some experts are saying that the UK Government's dream of creating a more "continental" drinking culture has not materialised.

Professor Dick Hobbs, a specialist in the night-time economy said "British drinkers have got used to a drinking in a certain way."

"It's going to take a very, very long time," he said, "but certainly the early indications are, quite predictably I think, that nothing has changed"

Home Office figures released at the end of last year showed violent crime recorded in England and Wales fell 11% at the end of 2005, despite longer opening hours coming in.

Week In Week Out is shown at 2235 GMT on 28 February on BBC1 Wales.