Trade calls for national approach to irresponsible promos
Calls for a national approach to tackling irresponsible drink offers are gaining momentum, as operators face a patchwork of local regulations which could make it impossible to plan promotions on a national level.
Three major cities - London, Manchester and Aberdeen - have confirmed they are following in the footsteps of Glasgow and Dundee by considering curbs on pubs, blaming happy hour and all-you-can-drink promotions for increases in late-night disorder.
The trade is calling for police and licensing authorities to start making use of increased powers they gained more than a year ago to clamp down on licensed premises causing concern.
In London, mayor Ken Livingstone has published an alcohol strategy for the capital that suggests a limit on happy hours, less vertical drinking and better bar service, with pubs to be required to meet city-wide standards.
Manchester, the city of "24-hour party people", faces a cap on new licences and promotional curbs as city councillors consult on ways to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence and disorder.
In Aberdeen, the licensing board is considering a promotional code which would set minimum drink prices, as well as limiting posters and flyers to promoting events rather than drinks offers.
Pub bosses have said the blame for late-night problems lies with cowboy operators and a lax approach to selling to under-18s by many off-trade outlets. Steve Thomas, chief executive of late-night venue operator Luminar Leisure, said: "We are turning away kids who are coming to the door already drunk."
Billy Lowe, managing director of Saltire Taverns, which operates late-night venues in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, said responsible operators in all three cities would welcome a co-ordinated approach to promotions. He said the company does not promote or discount drinks, focusing on special events instead.
As reported in The Publican, JD Wetherspoon has already stopped running its national promotion in its Glasgow pubs due to uncertainty over the scope of the city's code on promotions, while Mitchells & Butlers and Yates have both asked for clarification.
The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), which has produced a code of conduct on promotions which all its members have signed up to, said police and magistrates are not using powers such as 24-hour closures and refusal of licences, which were put in place specifically to tackle the problem.
Mark Hastings, spokesman for the BBPA, said the UK government and the Nicholson Report in Scotland have advised local licensing authorities to use the BBPA promotional guidelines.
He said: "The code is there, the police and licensing magistrates know very well which are the problem premises. The missing piece of the jigsaw is why aren't they using the powers they asked for, and were given."
