Pub group to teach kids about drink
The BII has announced it is to launch an alcohol awareness qualification for 13 to 16-year-olds in a bid to teach youngsters about drink.
BII chief executive, John McNamara broke the news today saying: "We are launching a high profile Schools Project which will enable members to get even more involved with their local schools and build the positive profile of the industry.
We have been working on this project for many months and it has been developed in response to governmental pressure on underage salesBII chief executive, John McNamara.
"As part of this we are piloting a BIIAB certificated qualification, the Certificate in Alcohol Awareness (CAA), designed to give children aged 13 - 16 knowledge about alcohol.
"We have been working on this project for many months and it has been developed in response to governmental pressure on underage sales and consumption but tackles the topic from a positive, educational angle.
"There have been calls last week to include alcohol education in the national curriculum and this project can aid that."
McNamara urged licensees to reinforce their role in the community and "show the positive effect of the licensed trade at a time of great challenges".
He added: "I fear that our next challenge will be a backlash against alcohol and whilst we all know that millions of people go out drinking responsibly in pubs every weekend there is still the constant voice of criticism.
"Education is also key to this and a change of cultural perception needs to start early. We can work against this ill informed pressure by publicly showing how we are, and have always been, a huge part of the community.
"The smoking roadshows run by BII earlier this year were a massive success with each location full and standing. I believe this shows that we are actively inspiring our members to face the forthcoming ban with a positive frame of mind.
"They want to know how to make the ban a financial success but also how to accommodate their smoking and non smoking customers in the best way possible. We have offered our members support on how to use this change as an opportunity to engage more with their local community by widening the customer base.
"We are facing a fundamental change of customer base and the retailers that embrace this will be the ones to go onto make profits. We need to be better tomorrow that we were yesterday. I urge the trade to face the future with optimism and professionalism. We will continue to support our members in building their businesses in the face of constant change as we have done for the last 26 years."
