BII's Responsible Alcohol Retailing Week
This week sees the launch of the first BII - professional body for the licensed retail sector - Responsible Alcohol Retailing Week.
The week will culminate in a pub tour around Fulham and Putney with guests from Government, local authorities, police and the press on a BII branded double decker bus.
The BII hopes to use the pub tour to highlight responsible alcohol retailing.
The tour will illustrate the diversity of different styles of pubs and aims to show the licensed trade encouraging responsible drinking instead of the image of a haven for underage drinkers and irresponsible drinks promotions that foster anti social behaviour.
John McNamara, chief executive of BII, said: "The aim of the Pub Experience is to show how some of the best pubs are run.
"No one pub offers the same experience and we hope to show this.
"We have over 17,500 members across the country operating in a socially responsible manner and contributing positively to their local communities and the night time economy in their areas.
"BII has been working hard over the last 25 years to increase the professionalism of the industry and promote a high level of social responsibility amongst licensees and staff.
"This, at times, seems to have been forgotten and as the professional body for the licensed retail sector it is our place to remind government, press and our customers of the huge contribution pubs provide to both local communities and the nation as a whole."
The Morning Advertiser fully backs responsible drinking.For more information please see our Responsible Drinks Retailaing campaign.
