Huge increase in towns blighted by alcohol trouble since drink laws relaxed Labour had intended to introduce a continental-style café culture when it introduced round-the-clock opening in 2005. But this has led to a massive increase in so called cumulative impact zones - the official term for a town centre or district plagued by problem drinking. Local authorities began tentatively introducing cumulative impact zones in major cities soon after they were first brought in in 2003. By 2012, large swathes of the country were covered by the restrictions which became a central strut of planning guidance. Among those cities forced to take action are York, Brighton, Bristol, Derby, Cambridge, Leicester, Leeds, Truro and Swansea. But towns spanning from Newquay and Bournemouth to Blackpool, Stockton-on-Tees and Whitby were not exempt. Bristol recently approved new restrictions in Bedminster and Southville after residents complained there were simply too many places to obtain alcohol. In York, officials are considering extending the zone for the second time since 2010 to ensure the safety of drinkers because of fears of increased violence and vandalism. Official guidance states a cumulative impact zone is "where the number, type or density of premises selling alcohol is high" and "problems of nuisance and disorder may be arising." Bars in a zone can be refused a licence, even if they satisfy normal planning rules, in order to prevent further disorder. Since 24-hour drinking was introduced by Labour eight years ago, police have fined an estimated 400,000 people for being drunk and disorderly. The most recent set of government figures shows the number of pubs and clubs with round-the-clock alcohol licences has soared by more than a fifth. There were 1,100 premises with a 24-hour licence in England and Wales at the end of March - a rise of 200 on the previous year. Home Office figures also showed there was a significant increase in the number of shops and supermarkets with a 24-hour alcohol licence, up 10 per cent year-on-year to 2,300. Overall, there are 8,900 round-the-clock licences, including other categories such as hotel bars. Since taking power, the Tories have tried to limit the harm caused by 24-hour drinking. They have given councils new powers to impose a blanket ban on pubs opening in the early hours of the morning. However, ministers have stopped short of returning to the traditional closing time of 11pm or midnight. Chief constables have declared 24-hour drinking a failed "experiment." Officers say round-the-clock opening has caused "significant problems" between 3am and 6am. The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said the situation was so bad that private sector-run "drunk tanks" should be introduced to care for the inebriated. Ministers have promised to reverse the worst effects of Labour's round-the-clock opening with a "late night levy" scheme. This allows councils to charge bars and pubs which want to open beyond midnight an extra fee of up to £4,440 each year. The cash is split between councils and police to help pay for clean-up costs and put extra officers on the street. But, during the first year of the new power being available, no councils took up the scheme. Last night, Home Office officials said the Coalition had made it easier for town halls to stop premises selling alcohol after midnight and impose other restrictions. Crime prevention minister Norman Baker said: "This government is determined to tackle alcohol abuse in any way we can. Alcohol-fuelled crime costs England and Wales around £11billion a year which is clearly unacceptable and is why we have taken a wide range of action to tackle cheap and harmful alcohol.