Confusion for licensees as children in pubs plans return
Controversial plans to allow children into pubs are firmly back on the political agenda.
The government has overturned an amendment to the Licensing Bill made by the House of Lords which would have excluded all unaccompanied children under the age of 14 from pubs.
The bill now returns to its original form which puts the responsibility on licensees to decide whether they want to let children in to buy food and soft drinks.
In theory, any pub that does not want to admit children will have the right to exclude them.
However, many licensees are concerned that the uncertainty created by policies which vary from pub to pub will lead to conflict with parents or teenagers seeking admission.
When the plan first emerged, a poll on thePublican.com showed that 95 per cent of licensees didn't want children in their pubs without an adult.
The Swiss Cottage pub in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex - a finalist in this year's Publican Awards Family Pub of the Year - has a children's certificate and markets itself as a family pub, but also operates a child-free area.
Licensee Gary Smith said: "We certainly wouldn't want to start admitting unaccompanied children and, to be honest, I'd be surprised that any parent would want their child to come into a pub environment on their own.
"It will put the responsibility on pubs to state their policy very clearly, but inevitably there will still be confusion."
The government has added further statutory checks to safeguard children in response to the concerns raised in the Lords.
Local area child protection committees will be set up to monitor pubs that admit children.
There will also be a list of criteria for local authorities to follow when considering an application to allow children into pubs.
The NSPCC has backed the plan, describing it as "the perfect opportunity to make public spaces more child-friendly while protecting children from the less salubrious side of drinking".
Nick Bish, chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, said: "The government may have overturned the Lords' amendment, but this doesn't mean that it will not look to introduce separate controls on children in pubs.
"It has already introduced protection of children as a new licensing objective into the bill and guidance will make clear which premises are suitable for children.
"Licensees will not be forced to admit children into their pubs, any more than they will find themselves prevented from admitting families.
"The key here is to give publicans the flexibility to run their business in the way that best suits them and their customers."
Related articles:
MPs plan to overturn pub ban on children (27 March 2003)
Lords say 'no' to kids in pubs (6 March 2003)
Trade is against children in pubs proposal (28 November 2002)
