Jowell attacks off-trade for fuelling disorder'
by John Harrington
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell took a swipe at cheap drinks deals in the off-trade during a heated Parliamentary debate last week in which MPs rejected Tory calls for the Licensing Act to be delayed.
The 2003 Act came under fire from MPs of all parties, but the Conservative's motion to postpone implementation until binge drinking was under control was defeated by 270 votes to 174.
While defending the act, Jowell said a big problem was the falling price of alcohol in Britain and she pointed the finger at the off-trade.
"The price of alcohol in supermarkets is much less than it is in a pub. It is possible for someone to get drunk for much less money if they buy alcohol from a supermarket or from some off-licences.
"There is a strong body of support for the belief that that is principally driving the increase in binge drinking and alcohol-related disorder."
Jowell also criticised all-inclusive drinks deals in pubs, but stressed that the act would allow local authorities to stamp down on any promotions that fuelled bad behaviour.
"Many young people drink too quickly as a result of promotions that encourage them to drink all they can for £9.99. Those promotions are designed to do nothing but encourage drunkenness.
"We can make responsible conduct of premises, which involves not promoting drink in that irresponsible way, a licence condition."
The Conservatives proposed a pilot scheme of deregulation in a few areas to monitor the impact of deregulation.
But opposing this view, John Grogan, MP for Selby and chairman of the All Party Parliamen-tary Beer Group, said: "Some young British people behave badly on holidays abroad because they regard drinking after 11pm as exceptional and different. Pilot schemes here could have the same effect."
Elsewhere, Conservative MPs in particular made constant reference to "24-hour drinking", but Jowell called this "a myth". "[The Act] does not promote or encourage 24-hour drinking," she said.
"It promotes flexible hours as a means of reducing the pressure of last orders."
