Lib Dem plans make pubs the scapegoat

Pubs and bars would again be made the scapegoat for antisocial behaviour under new plans from the Liberal Democrats.

The Lib Dems have proposed a "one-strike and you are out" system for selling to under-18s and would give local councils even more power to set conditions on licences.

In its Youth Crime Proposals, the Lib Dems also want to give councils the power to levy taxes on businesses, which cause anti-social behaviour and drunkeness - just like under an Alcohol Disorder Zone.

"These headline-seeking gimmicks would add to the burden facing our community pubs without getting to the causes of anti-social behaviour," slammed Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers chief executive Nick Bish.

"The Alcohol Disorder Zone Plus proposals are particularly misguided. If they want to be taken more seriously, the Lib Dems should instead turn their attention to the accessibility of cheap, unsupervised alcohol to the young via below-cost supermarket sales - and to enforcing the countless laws available to authorities already."