Row erupts over Tory plan to stop Soho pub goers standing upLondon Mayor Sadiq Khan has slammed a plan backed by a Tory council to stop pub goers in Soho from drinking while standing up. The document clearly said that measures could “reduce” or “remove opportunities” for what they refer to as “vertical drinking”. Khan hit out at the proposal for Soho and the West End that aimed to tighten licensing laws. Tim Barnes, the council member for growth and planning, said it was “ludicrous to suggest the council is planning to ban people standing up in pubs”. Newly-introduced legislation will allow Khan to provide a London-wide licensing policy and be consulted when councils revise their own policies.