Code is 'ridiculous and reckless'

14-Oct-2008 - Last updated on 12-Mar-2017 at 02:07 GMT

Bish: serious consequences

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers has launched a scathing attack on the Government's proposals for a mandatory code of conduct for the trade — it fears widespread job losses as a result of the regulatory overkill.

Ridiculous and reckless — the words of one senior trade figure used to describe the Government's proposed mandatory code of conduct.

Last week, the Morning Advertiser revealed barmy Government plans to enforce a code of conduct and now the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has hit back.

The code would see:

• Mystery shopper visits for firms with a turnover of more than £5m.• Toilets checked every hour.• Accredited training for anyone who sells alcohol.• A system for counting numbers entering a pub.• No noise above 70dBs inside.• Operating Challenge 21.• Twice-yearly meetings with police and council.• Sensible-drinking message at every place alcohol is served.• Knowing the age of all customers.• Nothing in the premises layout to be "conducive to drunkenness".

"To say that these latest proposals are ridiculous is an understatement," said ALMR chief executive Nick Bish. "Worse is their reckless misunderstanding of the costs to small businesses and to individual jobs.

"Yet again, the Government is wasting time and effort on yet more pointless proposals which treat the British public like idiots and do nothing to help Britain's great pub industry, which people know, love and value. There are real actions that the Government could take right now to help the industry, but all it can do is come up with pie-in-the-sky proposals based on wish-list sessions in ivory towers in Westminster."

He added: "Notably, there are no new measures put forward to target the supermarkets' below-cost selling of alcohol. They provide the fuel for alcohol pre-loading and contribute to the problems that sometimes arise on the high street."

Regulation overkill

British Beer and Pub Association director of communications Mark Hastings added: "If this mandatory code just banned free drinks for women and other irresponsible promotions we would have no objections at all. In fact it would have our full support.

"However, it goes far broader and deeper than that. It introduces a host of detailed regulations on the way every licensed business in Britain should be managed and run on a day-to-day basis, with all the accompanying enforcement and record keeping.

"The last thing the British people and business need at this time is to be further burdened by rising costs and regulation."