Lib Dems call for tough measures on alcohol sales

The Liberal Democrats have called for a zero tolerance approach to selling alcohol to the underage.

Don Foster, shadow secretary for Culture, Media and Sport, criticised the government after the release of a Home Office commissioned report into the state of the trade.

Research by KPMG, leaked yesterday but due to be officially released today, suggested there are widespread "irresponsible and harmful" practices in town centre, pubs, bars and clubs including illegal sales to drunks and the underage.

In response Foster said: "We're only going to get to grips with this issue with a zero tolerance approach to anyone found selling alcohol to children and a set minimum price to put an end to irresponsible drinks promotions."

He added: "This Government has completely run out of ideas about how to tackle this issue. Ministers must spell out to retailers that selling alcohol irresponsibly will not be tolerated.

However the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) said it was time the government recognised "thousands of landlord and managers operating responsibly".

ALMR chairman Tim Sykes pointed to the one million sales a month that are refused in pubs and bars.

He said: "The government must acknowledge that the vast majority of pubs operators are responsible retailers.

"All of our members sign up to our policy of refusing sales to the underage and the intoxicated, and all staff receive training in how to deal with this.

"We fully support the government in cracking down on those establishments and operators who do not meet the proper responsibility standards for the industry, but we would ask them to consider the fact that the KPMG report may prove misleading."