Trade becomes a political football
by John Harrington
Labour and the Conservatives have promised to introduce more regulation in the pub trade if they are elected on 5 May.
Labour would push to force problem pubs to search for guns or knives on entry as a condition of their licence, as part of a new Violent Crime Reduction Bill, to be introduced within a month of the election.
The Conservatives, mean-while, have promised to give councils far greater powers over opening hours, immunity from legal challenges and powers over drinks promotions.
The Tories' "five point plan", announced by leader Michael Howard on Tuesday, contradicts the "wait and see" approach suggested by the party's licensing spokesman Malcolm Moss in an interview this week with the Morning Advertiser. Howard said that councils should have the freedom to refuse licences without having to worry that the decision would be overturned in the courts.
The Tory leader said he would allow councils to refuse applications "even when there are no objections". Howard added that a Conservative Government would "put a stop to all you can drink' promotions", and said it would "change the law to allow local councils to attach conditions to licences, preventing irresponsible drinks promotions".
Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers chief executive Nick Bish hit out at the Tories' suggestion that licensees would be denied the chance to challenge council decisions in the court. "You can't just say you would give [councils] powers that you can't overturn by the courts. It's that way that madness lies."
Labour's Bill wants police to be able to issue immediate 24-hour "bans" on pubs and clubs that persistently sell alcohol to under-18s. People who have been issued with a fixed penalty notice could also be banned from designated areas for 24 hours. And under a "three strikes" rule, those who have committed disorder in pubs would be given "Drink Banning Orders", excluding them from venues in a specified area.
British Beer & Pub Association spokesman Mark Hastings said the new powers for police, proposed in Labour's Bill, already exist. He said that pubs and clubs can already be required to carry out searches for weapons as a condition of their public enter-tainment licence. "It's just another pre-packaging of existing laws and regulations. There are more repeats than Fawlty Towers."
Bar Entertainment & Dance Association chief executive Jon Collins said: "As the two parties try to appeal to voters, they look for issues that will get a reaction. It seems to happen to an even greater extent this time around because of where we are at with the Licensing Act."
l Tories and the trade p4
The Red Corner
Labour's Tackling Violent Crime Bill proposes:
l Problem pubs could be forced to search for guns or knives as a condition of their licence, on advice of the police
l Police could impose immediate 24-hour "bans" on pubs that persistently serve under 18s
l Police could ban troublemakers who have been issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice for Disorder from designated areas
l "Drinks Banning Orders", for troublemakers who have committed three offences, would ban them from pubs and clubs
The Blue Corner
Tory leader Michael Howard's "Five Point Plan"
l More police on the streets
l Councils can refuse licences for pubs, "without having to worry that they'll be overturned in the courts"
l Councils can attach conditions to licences preventing "irresponsible" drinks promotions
l Councils can block late-licence extensions in "drinking hotspots"
l Councils can refuse applications even where
there are no objections, and councillors can register objections and consider applications from the ward they represent
