Trade attacked for being 'slow to act' on reform
A leading licensing lawyer has attacked key trade associations for "sitting on the fence" for too long over licensing reform.
Speaking at the Guild of Master Victuallers' annual conference last week, Tom Henry, who advises the association on legal issues, said groups including the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) and the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) had not reacted quickly enough to voice their concerns.
As a result, he said, the government was pushing ahead with proposals that could damage the trade, and he expressed particular concern over the proposal to move licensing to local authority control.
He said: "We opposed the move right from the start and we have stuck by that. Only now are the BII and the BBPA speaking up."
But John McNamara, chief executive of the BII, defended the actions of the trade associations. "How can you take that position when a decision has not yet been made?" he said.
"We should be standing together - all for one and one for all - until we know that there is a definite battle to fight."
He added that the BII had surveyed members more than two years ago on licensing reform and had concluded that, while there was concern over local authorities, over 75 per cent of respondents said they would support the move if it meant less regulation.
But Mr Henry said the Guild would continue to fight the government on the issue. He added: "If these proposals go ahead in their current form it will be a disaster.
"If we are going to have local authority control then at the very least the government has to come up with some national guidelines."
The Guild has met with MP John Grogan, a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, to put its case.
Mr Henry's comments follow industry-wide concern last week about the apparent split within the trade over plans for licensing.
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Related articles:
Guild of Master Victuallers facing extinction (24 May 2002)
Industry split over licensing (17 May 2002)
