Lords say 'no' to kids in pubs

The House of Lords has overturned a ruling allowing kids of all ages into pubs unaccompanied.

Peers have voted against the Licensing Bill proposals and agreed that children under the age of 14 should not be allowed to enter pubs without an adult. They said such a move could put children at risk and voted to oppose the government by 184 votes to 111.

The government deregulation which aimed to make pubs more family friendly would have seen children able to enter pubs on their own to buy food and soft drinks.

The majority of publicans hit out at the proposals when they were announced in the Queen's Speech back in November. A poll on thePublican.com in December revealed that an overwhelming 95 per cent of licensees did not want children in their pubs without an adult. Licensees feared that pubs could become a haven for disruptive youngsters.

Kate Radford, licensee of the Station pub in Hove, East Sussex, welcomed the news.

"I've got a little boy and I don't think pubs are safe places for unaccompanied kids," she said.

"We let kids in with their parents until 5pm and that's fine. But if loads of children were allowed in on their own it would completely change the atmosphere and I think less adults would come here."

Chris McLean, licensee of the Plough & Harrow at Bridge, near Canterbury, agreed. "I can't see any justification for unaccompanied children under 14 wanting to come into a pub," he said.

"I have a traditional community boozer that doesn't serve food. There is no need to have children in my pub."

Tory peer Baroness Buscombe, who put forward the amendment, believes pubs could expose children to a risk from paedophiles, a view that has been criticised by the trade. She said: "I have yet to meet a publican who thinks that it is a good idea or who wants to be responsible for supervising youngsters who may get into trouble in what is sometimes a very adult atmosphere.

"Licensees have told us they feel compelled to make their premises as unrestricted as possible in order to remain competitive. That serves only to encourage an environment that puts children in danger."

However, trade leaders feel this latest saga could backfire on publicans who may face more bureaucracy.

Mark Hastings, of the British Beer & Pub Association, believes that it is a missed opportunity for the trade. He said: "If a 12 or 13-year-old can go into a licensed restaurant and have a burger or a pizza and a soft drink, why can't they go into a pub and do the same? It seems an unnecessary layer of regulation."

Tony Payne, chief executive of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Associations, is also disappointed by the move.

"In certain circumstances children should be allowed into pubs. There are likely to be more paedophiles in a local park than in a local pub.

"The licensee has to be a fit and proper person to hold a licence. The local authority also has the right to reject an application to have children in a pub."

The Licensing Bill is set to go into the House of Commons in April where the amendment could still be overturned.