This article explores the continuities in alcohol policy over the past decade under both Labour and Coalition governments. It is argued that these continuities reflect a neoliberal mentality of government whereby market mechanisms are maintained even when the outcomes produced are deemed undesirable. Policies to address these outcomes have focused on the individual citizen, conceived of as a potentially rational decision-maker. If exhortations to behave in the desired fashion do not reap results then measures are targeted at specific individuals or groups of individuals considered flawed consumers. The continuity is examined in light of recent commentary that has identified a trend in policy-making reflecting a loss of confidence in individual rationality and market outcomes, described variously as post-liberalism or neocommunitarianism. It is suggested that the stability of the broader underlying structures of thought that circumscribe contemporary policy discussions should not be underestimated.

Alcohol consumption in 21 st -century Britain is of significant interest to government, media and academics. Some have referred to a 'new culture of intoxication', fostered by the drinks industry, and enabled by a neoliberal policymaking context. This article argues that the 'carnivalesque' is a better concept through which to understand alcohol's place in British society today, in terms of production, regulation and consumption. The concept of the carnivalesque highlights how UK alcohol policy, though neoliberal, is located in a historical and moral context. It is also illuminates the ambivalence in drinkers' relationship with the contemporary night-time economy. In this way, productive avenues are opened for understanding drinking behaviour in today's Britain, considering what elements of this might be deemed problematic and why, and developing constructive regulatory policies.

Much academic work has argued that alcohol policy in England over the past 25 years can be characterised as neoliberal, particularly in regard to the night-time economy and attempts to address “binge” drinking. Understanding neoliberalism as a particular “mentality of government” that circumscribes the range of policy options considered appropriate and practical for a government to take, this article notes how the particular application of policy can vary by local context. This article argues that the approach of successive governments in relation to alcohol should be seen as based on a fear and condemnation of the carnivalesque, understood as a time when everyday norms and conventions are set aside, and the world is – for a limited period only – turned inside out. This analysis is contrasted with previous interpretations that have characterised government as condemning intoxication and particular forms of pleasure taken in drinking. Although these concepts are useful in such analysis, this article suggests that government concerns are broader and relate to wider cultures surrounding drunkenness. Moreover, there is an ambivalence to policy in relation to alcohol that is better conveyed by the concept of the carnivalesque than imagining simply a condemnation of pleasure or intoxication.

analyse in detail how current and recent government policy discussions have defined particular forms of drinking as problematic, and how these definitions and associated policy initiatives can be seen as part of a wider symbolic economy through which people come to be valued differently, incorporating ideas of economic, cultural and social capital. In this way, I argue that government policies and discussions of 'binge' drinking are a key way in which class is constituted in contemporary Britain.

The British night-time economy today has been characterised by academics across various disciplines as the result of neoliberal attempts to regenerate the evening economy 'on the cheap', leading to the dominance of 'mainstream nightlife' at the expense of subcultural traditional workingclass alternatives. One preferable alternative offered is the ideal of a 'diverse' and 'inclusive' 'creative city', with a greater focus on 'culture'. This article shows how such ideas have been taken up in the planning and regulation of the night-time economy in Bournemouth. Despite the current emphasis on the value of making the Bournemouth night-time economy 'more diverse', offering more 'balance' than the current vista, policymakers, like drinkers, are aware of the considerable distinctions within the night-time economy. The emphasis on diversity as a policy objective can be understood rather as an attempt to encourage a particular drinking style. In this context, a 'balanced' night-time economy refers more to the overall atmosphere than the variety of consumer choice. The ideal drinking style is seen as characteristic of a wealthier group of customers, who will exert a 'civilising' influence on the town, as wealth is associated with broader cultural attributes of these 'better people'. It is therefore argued that local alcohol policy can be seen as neoliberal in the sense of actively creating a particular form of market, rather than letting a free market develop and determine outcomes. The intersection of cultural, economic and social factors suggests that the local approach can be understood as both reflective and constitutive of class. (250 words) KeywordsGentrification, licensing, local government, neoliberalism, planning Main text word count: 5,988 (including notes and references)