Panorama attacks drink industry
The drinks industry turned whipping boy again on Sunday when the BBC's Panorama ripped into city centre pub operators.
The programme targeted the city of Nottingham and attacked operators who thrive on drinks promotions and turn the city into a "vulgar, intimidating battleground to be avoided at all costs."
Finding as many as 365 licensed premises in one square mile, reporter Andy Davies focused on a Saturday night out showing images of violence and urinating in the streets.
He claimed that the scene was the fault of a drinks industry in strong competition to sell drinks as well as a government intent on changing the drinks culture with longer licensing hours.
Licensing minister Richard Caborn and Mark Hastings, director of communications at the British Beer and Pub Association, were interviewed as were representatives from the police and legal profession.
The programme concluded that over 20 years the night time economy has brought vast regeneration to towns and cities, but not the café society first envisaged.
During the interview Mr Hastings tried to answer the criticisms that the industry exploits a culture of irresponsible drinking and claimed that the operators are in the business of providing sensible, responsible venues that people can enjoy safely.
After the programme was shown Mr Hastings said: "They had a programme in mind and that is what they've made, all we can do is continue to prove that we are doing all we can to fight irresponsible drinking. Hopefully then they will make the programme that shows the 30 million people who go out and have a good time each weekend and come home without any problems."
