Trade to fight Scots' plans
Trade bodies have vowed to fight any attempt by councils in England and Wales to bring in some of the more onerous licensing conditions currently being mooted in Scotland.
Among the measures being considered by Scotland's 32 licensing boards are: earlier closing times; increased seating to discourage vertical drinking; and banning outdoor drinking unless it is accompanied by food.
Concern exists that some English authorities may consider similar conditions during the current review of their licensing policies.
British Beer & Pub Association spokesman Neil Williams said: "There is some degree of concern because there always is the potential [that an English local authority might try to impose similar conditions]."
Tony Payne, chief executive of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations, said that if any attempts were made to impose such conditions: "We will fight them very strongly in the same way as the SLTA (Scottish Licensed Trade Association) is fighting them."
Draft conditions issued by Edinburgh say seating should be provided for 50% of the capacity of a venue.
SLTA secretary Colin Wilkinson said: "The licensing boards haven't looked at the practicalities.
"If a landlord has a large number of people in his pub, has he got to physically force people to sit down?"
Wilkinson also fears some boards might try to impose a blanket glass ban.
Licensing boards have until 30 November to issue their draft proposals, consult and adopt the conditions. No national guidelines have been issued so it is up to individual authorities to interpret the Act.
Scottish Beer & Pub Association chief executive Patrick Browne said: "It is a very ambitious target and some boards may leave little time for consultation.
"It looks like the trade will again be caught between a rock and a hard place."
scottish stance on cheap booze
While unconfirmed reports suggest that the Competition Commission will allow English supermarkets to continue selling alcohol at heavily discounted prices, the Scottish Government is taking the opposite stance.
Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill has won some friends in the on-trade by proposing a crackdown on discounted alcohol sales in supermarkets and off-licences.
Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) chief executive Patrick Browne said: "Two years ago, we argued for a level playing field between the on-trade and the off-trade. It is welcome to see that policy is working its way through the Scottish Government."
Colin Wilkinson, secretary of the SLTA, said: "It is something that we've been pushing for. It's absurd that supermarkets can sell beers and ciders at 43p a pint - that's cheaper than water. We've always said that once the smoking issue has been dealt with, then the Government should look at alcohol abuse, particularly cheap drink promotions."
Speaking at an Alcohol Focus Scotland conference, MacAskill said he wanted "to end the days of 'buy two get one free'-type promotions". He added: "We will stop shops displaying beer all around the store or cross-merchandising wine in the pizza counter."
