Since the recent changes in licensing laws, over 190,000 UK businesses have submitted applications to extend their alcohol sale hours. In Norwich, a large city northeast of London, one neighborhood is up-in-arms about extending the alcohol sale hours for a local bingo hall. Neighbors of the Mecca Bingo Hall on Aylsham Road say that it would be a mistake to allow the hall to serve alcohol for an extra hour, until midnight.

The neighbors say that bingo players often are noisy when going to their cars. Area residents accuse bingo players of being unruly and rude to passersby. They argue that extending the hours would make the noise even more of a problem. Players counter that generally they are quiet, and only talk about the evening’s events. The council’s licensing sub-committee is responsible for making the final decision.