MPs grant pubs extra time to open if England or Wales reach Women's Euros semis
Bars will be allowed to sell alcohol until 1am, if either England or Wales – or both – take part in the European Championship semi-finals or finals next month.
Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said venues 'stand to benefit' from the temporary later closing time, pushed back from the usual 11pm cut-off, and Conservative MP Andrew Snowden warned his father might 'disown' him, had his party not backed the Government's proposal.
But if neither team manages to reach the final stages, pubs will have to stick to their ordinary licence conditions.
The semi-finals take place on July 22 and 23, with the final on July 27.
Dame Diana said this year's championship in Switzerland, which kicks off on July 2, was a 'prestigious tournament'.
She said a Government order paved the way for a 'temporary extension of licensing hours across England and Wales should either England or Wales or both progress to the semi-finals or the final of the competition'.
MPs laughed when she added: 'I have to say, from my limited following of football, it seems like the women's teams have a reputation for doing far better than our male teams.'
A Home Office consultation found 87% of respondents backed the proposed extension of licensing hours for the semi-finals, dropping to 84% for the final, Dame Diana told the Commons.
Publicans 'stand to benefit from this modest extension which would allow them to accommodate increased demand during these high-profile fixtures', she said, and added: 'I fully accept that the hospitality sector has had a difficult time over the last few years and this is a helpful measure.
'It is right to acknowledge as well that police representatives have expressed some concerns regarding the potential for increased crime and disorder.
'Now, whilst operational decisions on deployment and resourcing are a matter for individual forces, I am confident that appropriate measures will be taken to mitigate any risks, as has happened in similar cases.
'Notably, there have been no significant incidents of large-scale disorder linked to previous licensing extensions, which I think is testament to the professionalism of our police service, to whom we owe our thanks.'
The move to extend licensing hours applies only to alcohol, and does not apply to off licences and supermarkets.
'If neither England nor Wales reach the semi-finals, the proposed extension will not apply on July 22 or 23. Similarly, if one or both teams reach the semi-finals but do not progress to the final, normal licensing hours will apply on July 27,' Dame Diana warned.
Mr Snowden, the MP for Fylde, said his party was 'delighted to support these temporary licensing changes'.
He added: 'To be fair, I don't think I would have much choice on this matter, as if I ever stood at this despatch box and opposed more time in the pub to watch football, my dad would probably disown me.'
Mr Snowden told MPs there was 'no reason why we should doubt' that the reigning champions, England, will reach the semi-finals.
'We are the defending champions of the Women's Uefa cup after England's magnificent performance at the 2022 tournament hosted here in the UK at Wembley,' he told MPs.
'The final saw a 2-1 victory, and of course in football, it was made all the sweeter by beating the Germans.
'So this is a fantastic time to support your local as well as your national.'
MPs called 'aye' to approve the extension.
Ministers can extend licences for events 'of exceptional international, national, or local significance', but must ask for MPs' permission.
Labour MP for Wrexham Andrew Ranger has called for a tweak in the law, so that ministers can extend licensing hours without the need for a vote in Parliament.
Dame Diana said the Government has supported his Licensing Hours Extension Bill, but added it would not clear both the Commons and the Lords in time for the Women's Euros.
She said agreeing to Thursday's order – originally laid on May 15 – without a division reinforced 'the argument that debating such measures may not represent the most effective use of parliamentary time'.
England and Wales face each other on July 13, with both home nations in Group D alongside France and the Netherlands.
The Lionesses will face France on July 5 when Wales will play the Netherlands.
On July 9, England will play the Netherlands while Wales face France.
Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate licensing rules.
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She would certainly have been playing through pain but clearly, both the nature of the injury and her resilience enabled her to continue.' How much pain? It's impossible to know. Every player, and person, will experience that differently. And when it comes to elite athletes, it's even harder to quantify. Some players are able to push through injuries that would sideline others thanks to years of conditioning, mental resilience, and a high tolerance for discomfort. Add to that the surge of adrenaline experienced during high-stakes matches, and the pain can become temporarily manageable, or at least ignorable. After the victory over Spain on penalties in the final, Bronze told reporters she had been 'in a lot of pain at the end of the (club) season' but she only discovered the reason for this pain and the full extent of the injury – a fracture to her tibia – after England's Nations League win over Portugal at the end of May. 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In the end, her performance, and her ability to manage the injury, was a blend of medical strategy, mental toughness, and sheer determination.' It's possible, though, that there is another aspect which could be considered when it comes to how Bronze fought her way through so many physically demanding games at the Euros. In an interview with Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4 the day after the final, her mother Diane said that when discussing the injury together, her daughter told her she had 'a high pain threshold. I can deal with pain.' Bronze was diagnosed as autistic in 2021 and has spoken openly about how her differences impact her on and off the pitch, describing herself as having a 'hyperfocus' on football. In an interview with the BBC earlier this year, Bronze said: 'People always say, 'Oh, you're so passionate about football'. I don't know if I'd say I'm passionate, I'm obsessed… Training every day is amazing for me. 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'It's always speculative,' says Scott, 'but it's very common that, when you come back from one injury, if you're compensating slightly, you're always a little bit more predisposed to another one.' In terms of the tibia fracture itself, Scott says again that England's medical team would have taken 'external expert advice' before Bronze was named in the squad for the tournament: 'You don't take chances if you think you're going to cause long-term damage.' But, he adds, 'Whenever you play on a body part that's not fully healed, you've always got a chance that it will get worse. Hopefully, we're not talking about a risk that would end in a career-ending injury, but there's always potential that it doesn't heal as expected and she would be out for a longer period of time.' Whose decision is it then, when it comes to situations like this? 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England, Premier League, International Football, Women's Soccer, Women's Euros 2025 The Athletic Media Company
