BBPA awaits response from government on World Cup precautions

The government has failed to respond to calls from the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) to act as a "matter of urgency" over outdoor events...

The government has failed to respond to calls from the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) to act as a "matter of urgency" over outdoor events during the World Cup.

The trade association has written to the Home Office and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport highlighting its concerns about the outside screenings which are generally run by local authorities.

The BBPA is particularly concerned about the level of security which it believes could create potential problems in town centres.

It fears customers will drink at these larger events before moving on into pubs where trouble could be caused.

Mark Hastings, director of communications at the BBPA, said: "While the pub trade has had meetings with government and has been asked to provide detailed information on our precautionary planning, we are unaware of any such process being undertaken with local government."

The four-page letter - sent to Vernon Coaker MP, Home Office minister, and Shaun Woodward MP, the minister in charge of licensing - lists what pubs will be doing to fight any disorder problems during the World Cup period.

It covers a range of issues including staff training, how to sensibly promote products and how conflict management and security should be handled.

The pub trade is asking for assurance that a similar list of measures will be provided by local government authorities.

But a Home Office spokesman said the government was liasing with LGAs to make them aware of what needs to be done during the World Cup period.

He said: "The government will be in touch directly with local licensing authorities to remind them of the need for big screen events to be carefully planned with regard to minimising the risk of disorder.

"It will be encouraging them to inform the local licensed trade of details of the screenings so they can make their own arrangements."

The four page letter from the BBPA details how pubs will be operating during the World Cup. It includes: