Late-licensed venues cannot evade ADZ charges: Clarke

by John Harrington

Home Secretary Charles Clarke has denied claims that late-night bars could dodge payment of Alcohol Disorder Zone (ADZ) charges because of a loophole.

The Violent Crime Reduction Bill states that only venues whose primary function is the provision of alcohol will have to stump up cash.

Clubs and other late venues could escape because the conditions of the late licence stipulate that the main purpose of their operation is the provision of music and entertainment.

But addressing the House of Commons during the second reading of the Bill on Monday, Clarke said suggestions that 'certain kinds of establishments could be excluded from paying are 'entirely wrong.

But Jon Collins, chief executive of the Bar Entertainment and Dance Association (Beda), which represents 3,000 clubs, said venues could have a legal defence for not paying the charge.

'Every nightclub in the country has been rubber-stamped in the courts that the operation of their premises is primarily for music, dancing or food, he said.

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) and the Federation of Licensed Victuall-ers Associations (FLVA) also expressed concern that nightclubs could be exempt from charges in an ADZ.

BBPA communications director Mark Hastings said: 'The growing list of people who will be excluded is an indication of the confusion surrounding this piece of legislation.

The logic of ADZs was questioned by MPs during Monday's debate.

Conservative shadow Home Secretary David Davis poured scorn on the effectiveness of an ADZ. 'If it is effective at all, its effects will be limited and slow in coming, he said.

And Liberal Democrat Lynne Featherstone argued that there may be 'a lack of incentive for good landlords if they are treated the same as the bad landlords in a disorder zone.

But Clarke denied that good licensees would be punished, and said that all pub operators want to improve their local area.

MPs from all parties pointed to the success of voluntary methods of cutting alcohol-related violence, such as pubwatch schemes and Best Bar None pub and club accreditation awards.