Pubs face drinks promotions postcode lottery
Trade bodies fear greater powers for local councils to control drink prices will lead to a "postcode lottery" for pubs.
Government ministers are determined to address increasing public concern about late-night, alcohol-driven disorder, which has been fuelled by a series of scare stories in the national press and on TV.
Last week the Department for Culture, Media & Sport confirmed that under the guidance for the Licensing Act local authorities will be able to introduce voluntary codes of practice in relation to drinks promotions.
Trade bodies are concerned that the increasing range of different local initiatives will make it harder for the pub industry to send a clear message that it is dealing with the problem.
The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has asked the government to promote the BBPA code of practice on promotions to local authorities when they assume licensing control, to create a more consistent approach.
It fears pubs will suffer because of a few operators running irresponsible promotions.
Spokesman Mark Hastings said: "Minimum pricing schemes do not focus on the core issue that bad promotions are run by irresponsible operators in bad pubs.
"This is an opportunity for the industry to demonstrate it is prepared to stamp out promotions that fuel excessive drinking."
The concerns follow news that Nottingham, Durham and Leicester have introduced minimum pricing schemes, following the lead of Bournemouth and Middlesbrough.
Birmingham police are also calling for a ban on cheap drink promotions because they are fuelling rising levels of violence in the city.
In Leicester, police licensing officer PC Dave Piguillem said the increasingly fragmented pub and bar scene in the city, with no licensed victuallers association or Pubwatch group to co-ordinate licensees, had prompted the police to take action.
"We were seeing some silly promotions of the 'all-you-can-drink-for-a-fiver type'," said PC Piguillem.
"We got licensees together and agreed a £1 minimum price for drinks. What we're about is supporting responsible licensees."
Drinks promotions: what licensees say
A poll on thePublican.com has revealed that just over half of licensees think they should be left to run their businesses without interference.
However, 25 per cent of publicans say that a well-run business should not need to introduce happy hours, while eight per cent say they were forced to introduce them because of competition in the marketplace.
Only 14 per cent say disorder is caused by drinks promotions.
