New call to cut 'idiotic' red tape
The pub trade is ramping up the pressure on the government to live up to its promises to slash red tape following new research highlighting its devastating effect.
Unnecessary form filling, complying with needless legislation and other red tape is seen by businesses as the number one factor holding back development, according to the CBI.
And independent think-tank Civitas claims red tape is now costing British businesses an extra £30bn a year.
Red tape was highlighted as the key issue hampering licensees by half of the pub company bosses attending the recent Publican Industry Leaders' Forum.
And John Young, chairman of London brewer Young's, slammed Tony Blair over the issue in his company's annual report, published this week.
Mr Young complained about "idiotic regulations and quangos of bureaucrats, whose sole role in life seems to be to make us do anything except brew and sell beer".
The company says the pub trade is now so tangled up in red tape that brewers and licensees are forced to spend more time in their offices than producing beer or serving customers. Mr Young added: "It is time to untie the red tape and burn it, Mr Blair."
The British Hospitality Association, meanwhile, slated Gordon Brown's efforts to get to grips with the issue. Last month the Chancellor announced an "action plan" aimed at replacing certain regulations with a more risk-based approach.
Chief executive Bob Cotton said the higher costs of licences and the mass of paperwork required for a premises application were examples of the government imposing needless new procedures.
"It's little surprise that business will take the Chancellor's statement with caution - even incredulity," said Mr Cotton. He added that the fact so few licensees had applied for a licence under the new Act was "a sure sign that brave promises of simplification and less red tape have not been fulfilled".
The CBI survey, which was carried out for the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), quizzed 3,000 businesses.
Terry Hodgkinson, lead spokesman for the RDAs on CBI issues, said: "Many businesses are concerned about red tape and we have consistently made government aware of these concerns."
Red tape is strangling my pub
Brian Marshall, of the Musicians' Arms, Donnington, Lincolnshire
"Red tape is an absolute nightmare, a lot of pubs are struggling with it.
"Licences are the worst thing - not only complying with the Licensing Act, but fruit machine licences, PRS licences, PPL licences...soon we're going to need a licence to sell coffee!
"We are the ones who promote music. PPL should be paying us, rather than the other way around."
