Chief Supt David McWhirter, the county's police commander, says he has changed his mind about the wisdom of introducing 24-hour drinking.

He believes that young people in Britain aren't mature enough to handle an 'open all hours' policy, blaming our 'yob culture' and the antics of footballers and pop stars.

The only surprise is that it has taken him so long to come to this conclusion. It has been evident for years that once drink is inside them, some young people become different personalities and are guilty of intolerable behaviour inside and outside our pubs, clubs and bars.

You only have to look at George Street in Oxford on a busy night. Even the police admit it can be an intimidating place.

The time to consider all-night drinking should be when such unacceptable conduct disappears from our streets, not before. Such rights must be earned, not granted.

We agree with Chief Supt McWhirter that footballers and pop stars have contributed to the 'yob culture'.

They should be setting an example to our young people.

Thankfully, there seems to be little enthusiasm among brewers and pub and bar owners at present for 24-hour drinking.

But they, of course, have a different agenda. Their interest is in how much money they can make, not how much disorder 24-hour drinking is likely to bring