Mulholland calls for meeting with minister to discuss government pub proposals

28-Jul-2010 - Last updated on 28-Aug-2011 at 09:00 GMT

Greg Mulholland, chairman of the All Party Save The Pub Group, has requested a meeting with a Home Office minister to press the case for pubs in the...

Greg Mulholland, chairman of the All Party Save The Pub Group, has requested a meeting with a Home Office minister to press the case for pubs in the wake of the government proposals for the on-trade.

The LibDem MP for Leeds North West said he had asked for a meeting with the minister, James Brokenshire MP, where he said he will voice his concerns that certain proposals, such as a late night levy without exemptions for community pubs, will do more harm than good.

"I share the sentiment behind these proposals that we must crack down on alcohol-related crime. But the proposals fail to differentiate between those places that have a reputation for trouble and the thousands of community pubs that serve their communities without any such problems.

"It is high time the importance of community pubs is actually recognised by government. As controlled, sociable places for people to enjoy a drink, they are part of the solution to antisocial drinking.

Brian Binley MP, the Save The Pub Group's vice-chairman, said he welcomed the Home Secretary's desire to ban below-cost selling, but warned the issue of binge drinking will still remain.

"If the Home Secretary is serious about tackling binge drinking she needs to review the taxation policy on alcohol.

"Beer has one of the highest rates of tax and yet it has one of the lowest percentages of alcoholic content. We must encourage, through the taxation system, people to drink lower strength drinks to tackle this problem."

Mike Benner, chief executive of CAMRA, said he hoped the new government would build on the success of the 2005 Licensing Act, "which have enabled many thousands of community pubs to open slightly later on Friday and Saturday nights.

"CAMRA looks forward to submitting evidence showing the positive impact of the 2005 licensing changes, debunking the myth that has grown up surrounding 24 hour drinking and to opposing any changes which may unfairly penalise responsible drinkers and community pubs."