such as “Empty your glasses please,” or more likely, “Ain’t you got no ‘ome to go to?” are immortal rantings from “mine host” that will be familiar to everyone who has had a pint in hand at closing time in an English pub. They bring the evening’s (or afternoon’s) drinking to an end and are prompted by licensing law. In theory, such calls should be less frequent because most British pubs, clubs, and bars are now permitted to serve liquor 24 h a day (there are different laws for England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland), although relatively few actually do. Many town houses trade from 10 AM until midnight, and clubs, which open early in the evening, might stay open until the small hours. Only a few places are open all night.

Until 2005, British on-license hours were restricted to morning/afternoon (10:30 or 11:00 AM to 2:30 or 3:00 PM) and evening sessions (5:00 PM to 10:30 or 11:00 PM). These hours were different on a Sunday. Such restrictions were introduced “temporarily” during World War I and never rescinded.

The time-honored protocol for closing a session was for the landlord to ring a bell and shout “last orders” 10 min before actual closing time (i.e., 10:50 for 11:00 PM). Precise wording would normally be something like: “Time, gentlemen, please,” or “Last drinks at the bar.” After this call, the customer has 10 min to purchase drinks. No drink should be served after closing time, and, from then on, the customer should finish his purchase(s) within 20 min.

The relaxation of licensing law was supposedly aimed at bringing Britain into line with the rest of the Western world and to prevent the frenzied activity in and outside of pubs around “last orders,” “closing time,” and the subsequent ejection of all customers from the premises.

See also law, public houses (pubs), and taverns.