Home Office using 'sledghammer to crack a nut'

A leading trade group has urged the government to spend money on helping pubs thrive rather than wasting cash on trying to spot drunks.

Nick Bish, chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, has hit out at the Home Office following the publication of results from its Responsible Alcohol Sales Campaign.

He described an operation where undercover police were sent to find pubs selling alcohol to drunks as "using a sledgehammer to crack a nut."

Yesterday ThePublican.com​ revealed the Home Office spent £250,000 to send out 90 police teams on 1,700 pub visits.

But only 53 offences of selling to drunks were recorded and just one pub was shut, one licence reviewed and three warnings issued.

The offices had been told to look for tell-tale signs of drunkenness including "rambling conversation", "an unkempt appearance", "being careless with money" and "spilling drinks".

Bish said the operation had "found remarkably few problems."

He added: "Where things have gone wrong, it's absolutely right for action to be taken - with warnings being issued or licences being reviewed. But 'The Responsible Alcohol Sales Campaign' found that the vast majority of alcohol sales are being handled very responsibly by Britain's pubs and bars.

"The figures show that the Home Office has been happy to devote a huge amount of time, money and manpower to one closure of a licensed premises.

"It's time for a change of priorities. We need the government to start devoting a similar amount of attention to policies which enable more of Britain's pubs and bars to remain open - in the interests of customers, employees and the economy alike."