Butt out of our business says pub trade

Trade groups have slated plans to force pubs to clear up cigarette butts dropped up to 100m from the premises.

Under Government plans, licensees could be hit with fixed penalties of £110 if they don't clear up butts and other litter from specified areas up to 100m from their pub.

This idea is part of a proposal to extend Street Litter Control Notice Orders (SLCNOs) to include pubs, clubs and restaurants.

There's no common sense in having a limit of 100m from the pub. There could be five pubs in that area and who would know where the litter came from?​FLVA chief executive Tony Payne.

Trade associations criticised the idea in their submissions for the consultation, which ended this week.

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) said the extra litter bins required would cost the trade more than £3m, based on the Government's estimated cost of £30 to £100 per bin.

The BBPA said fines should not be implemented "until they can be applied equally across all businesses" including offices.

However, it would require new legislation to apply the measure to office buildings.

A BBPA spokesman said: "Pubs are always more than happy to co-operate in keeping their immediate environment clean.​

"However, it would also be fairer if new rules applied to everybody at the same time, such as outside offices. There is no logical reason why pubs should be treated differently to any other business."

Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations chief executive Tony Payne said: "Our concern is that pubs will be held responsible for other people's rubbish. People could walk by and drop litter outside the pub."​

He added: "There's no common sense in having a limit of 100m from the pub. There could be five pubs in that area and who would know where the litter came from?"​

Guild of Master Victuallers chairman Godfrey Page said the proposal "could lead to all sorts of problems".​

"You could imagine licensees outside their pub every morning sweeping the streets," he said.

Godfrey called on the Government to foot the bill, as it was responsible for

passing the smoke-ban law.

Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers chief executive Nick Bish said it was a "pity" that the proposed measures won't apply to other businesses such as offices.

A spokeswoman for the Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs said there was no

timetable to extend SLCNOs to pubs.