Trade blasts ADZs fiasco... yet again

Trade bodies have criticised the Home Office for giving just three days to respond to re-drafted guidance on alcohol disorder zones (ADZs).

Further delays have hit the introduction of controversial ADZs after regulations on the plan were withdrawn over flaws in the wording of the complaints procedure for local authorities.

Guidance on ADZs has also been re-drafted and trade groups including the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) and the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) have been asked to respond.

BBPA chief executive Rob Hayward said they received the re-drafted guidance on Monday last week and only had until the next Wednesday to reply.

Hayward said: "This is not a consultation process when in a week when a lot of people are on holiday, and when we have been waiting for re-written regulations and guidance for many weeks, we are given no more than three days to respond. We will write to the Home Office to say this is unacceptable."

WSTA spokesman Gavin Partington agreed: "It's ridiculous to attempt such substantial changes and give such a small amount of time to respond."

Pubs that find themselves in ADZs could be forced to pay a levy towards the cost of alcohol-related disorder.

Hayward added: "This is just further confirmation that a piece of legislation introduced in a hurry in 2005 was badly thought out and badly drafted."

A Home Office spokesman said he could not say when councils would get the green light to push for ADZs.

The timetable has been pushed back several times after ADZs were slammed as too bureaucratic by a House of Lords Select Committee.