BBPA slams government over ADZ plans

A senior member of the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has slammed government proposals for controversial Alcohol Disorder Zones (ADZs).

Lee Le Clercq, the association's regional secretary for the North of England, hit out at the proposals during a speech at the 'Working in Partnership to Develop a Sensible Approach to Alcohol' conference, held this morning at Liverpool's LACE Conference Centre.

"The government says that we are to have alcohol disorder zones imposed on us and so bring everyone's reputation down to the level of the lowest," said Mr Le Clercq. "How does that provide an incentive to be responsible? And how does that achieve one of the Bill's principle aims - to restore respect?

"The Home Secretary talks about 'collective responsibility', whereby all the good pubs and clubs somehow get together to route out the bad apples.

"But well-run venues are not collectively responsible for the criminality of similar type businesses, and it is certainly not the job of licensees to 'send the boys round' to sort out the renegade - that is a task only our law enforcers can discharge."

The national conference aims to focus on the impact of alcohol on modern society and highlight ways that different agencies and organisations can work together to encourage sensible social drinking practices across the UK.

ADZs will be reviewed when the Violent Crime Reduction Bill goes for a second reading in the House of Lords; a date for which has still yet to be set.

Mr Le Clercq added that pubs would not be the only ones hit by ADZs, saying: "Estate agents, tourist boards, inward investors, development agencies… they must be burying their heads in their hands at the thought of these impending ghettos.

"What might happen to property prices or insurance premiums within these Zones is anyone's guess."