Beda: Partnership approach must filter through to police
A trade leader has welcomed the new spirit of partnership with Government but warned it must filter through to front-line police.
Reacting to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith's proposals to cut alcohol abuse in conjunction with the trade, Bar Entertainment and Dance Association (Beda) senior consultant Jon Collins (pictured) said he had been impressed with the tone of the speech.
There is such an enforcement-led, confrontational attitude at the momentJon CollinsBeda
"The tone seems to have changed and is now more proportionate and the language is one of acceptance of partnership but the challenge now is to make sure that attitude is transmitted through the Home Office and into the police," he said.
"There is such an enforcement-led, confrontational attitude at the moment fuelled by the constant underage sting campaigns and checks."
Collins was also disappointed that Smith decided to pick on the on-trade to highlight irresponsible promotions such as 50p-a-shot and all-you-can-drink for £10.
"I think you would be hard pushed to find one of those now because they have largely been eradicated," he said.
"I bet you couldn't find 20 of those offers in existence across the country - and that's out of 140,000 licensed premises.
"And where there are those promotions it is mainly because of the pressures of the new licensing laws and the smoking ban."
Collins hopes the issue of supermarket pricing will be closely examined in the Department of Health's report on alcohol pricing, promotion and harm due later this year.
Parental responsibility
Meanwhile, the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) welcomed the move to encourage police to utilise existing powers to deal with underage drinkers.
"Equally, it's right that parents should take responsibility for their children and where they don't the authorities should step in," said WSTA chief executive Jeremy Beadles.
"We, in the industry, are taking steps to reduce problem drinking and are pleased to be working in partnership with Government to encourage sensible consumption of alcohol."
At the meeting, Beadles grilled the Home Secretary on why 3,500 Fixed Penalty Notices were handed out to retaliers for selling to under-18s in 2006 but only 20 to under-18s for attempting to purchase alcohol.
Smith replied that one of the clear messages was people had to take "personal responsibility" for their actions.
