England fans risk £90 fines after pub opening hours law change on Sunday

A huge day for England football fans beckons on Sunday - and pubs have already been granted special permission in law to open for longer to celebrate or commiserate Euro 2025 viewers.

England's Lionesses have the chance to defend their Euros title on Sunday when they square off against Spain, just days after extra-time drama saw them see off Italy. Under normal pub opening time rules, venues must shut by 11pm on Sundays, but this Sunday, July 27, pubs are being given special dispensation in law to open for longer, until 1am on Monday.

But with more drinking, it's a possibility there may be a bit more drunkenness too. While the vast majority of football fans are well behaved and won't get into any issues, police do have powers to tackle any fans who get a little bit too into their celebrations (or lamentations, depending how the score ends up).

According to Ask The Police, officers have powers to issue a Penalty Notice for Disorder in England and Wales.

These are considered a 'simple and swift way' for police to deal with low-level antisocial behaviour and other nuisance, including being drunk and disorderly.

This could mean, for example, causing a nuisance to residents in the area due to excessive noise, or being sick in the street.

The good thing about these fixed penalty fines is that they don't end in a criminal conviction if you choose to accept and pay the fine instead of going to court.

Ask The Police says: "A Penalty Notice for Disorder is a type of fixed penalty notice that is available in England and Wales for a specified range of penalty offences. They are a simple and swift way for officers to deal with low level, anti-social and nuisance behaviour, such as littering, wasting police time, and being drunk and disorderly.

"Once the notice has been issued the person must either pay the amount shown or request a hearing within 21 days, details of which are shown on the back of the notice.

"The notices are intended to free up police officers' time from dealing with such behaviour (i.e. preparing statements and appearing at court). The officer will either give the offender a notice at the scene of the incident or in some cases when they are in custody; it is still a more efficient method of dealing with the offender than charging them. It can even be given weeks after the event if the circumstances are appropriate.

"The notices can only be given if the offender agrees to have the matter dealt with in this way. Once they have agreed, a fine of £60 or £90, depending on the tier of offence will be issued.

"The incentive for the alleged offender to 'pay-up' is that no criminal conviction or admission of guilt is associated with payment of the penalty. If the offender fails to pay the PND, then the fine will be increased and eventually a warrant will be issued.

"If the offender refuses the PND, then the case will proceed as normal to the courts. If found guilty, however, this will be recorded as a criminal conviction."