More than a swift one on the Sabbath

Spencer, 22, publican: "I don't see any point. The customers just won't come in as early. Instead of 12am they'll come in at 2pm. I don't see any more money in it. At the moment it's nice to have that little rest, and not to have to bring more staff in. I doubt people will drink any more."

Jenny Davies, 55, housewife: "If I'm out on a long-distance walk it might affect me, because I'm apt to end up at a pub at the wrong time of day."

Mr Sharrock, 51, teacher: "Will it change my life? Marginally. What difference will it make? About a pint a month."

Jimmy, 40, unemployed: "It might come in handy, though I don't know if it'll change my life. I always have a drink. I've got one now, a bottle of cider. I'll be able to get it all day on Sunday? Bloomin' eck! No rest for the workers, is there?"

Frank Riley, 43, diving superintendent: "I'm in favour of it, because of the flexibility. I like being able to go out on a Sunday afternoon and not have the `Time, gentlemen, please' at three o'clock. I work in the oil industry up in Aberdeen and in Scotland they've had this all along and I've never seen it abused. At the end of the day the average person's only got a limited amount of finance to spend on alcohol."

Harold Dickinson, retired: "I don't drink on a Sunday afternoon. I like a pint now and again but I'm not worried about pubs being closed in the afternoon. But I've no objection."

Shirley, 26, McDonald's: "I think it's better. I won't drink any more - I don't drink a lot anyway. It won't make me go out and buy alcohol."

Sheila, Rachel, Sarah, 18 and 19, students: "The only difference it'll make is if you work in a pub in the holidays. It might encourage people to go to pubs more. But if you want alcohol you can buy it on Saturday anyway, so it's just more convenient."

Name withheld, middle-aged woman: "I'm in the licence trade and I think it's a good thing because it's the only day when a lot of people can sit and relax and have a drink. A lot of people work six days a week, and when they go out for a quiet drink they're thrown out as soon as they get in. But it won't make people drink more."

Audrey Lawton, 67, housewife: "It won't affect my life because I don't drink. I don't think it'll make people drink more. Although I'm not very religious, I think Sunday is being eroded and that there is no special day of the week now, and that's a greatpity."

Amanda Reeves, 25, insurance broker: "It might affect me in summer. You'll be down the pub all day then, instead of in your garden drinking with your friends. I don't think I'll drink more. It's a good idea."

Lockie, 27, homeless, Big Issue seller: "It won't change my life because I don't drink. I don't think it'll make people drink any more. I think it's been better since opening hours have been longer. You don't have to rush about drinking."

Joyce Wheeler, 62, retired: "I don't really agree with it. I'm not a drinker for a start. I suppose it's a good thing in a lot of ways, but it doesn't interest me."

Nick, 19, Barry, 17, John, 23, media studies students: "It won't change our lives at all. I don't think it'll change anybody's. We don't really drink on Sundays. It won't make us drink any more."

Frank, 37, kitchen porter: "I won't drink any more. It won't make the slightest difference."