Government shuns 'health test' for pub licences

The Government is not in favour of a "health test" for granting new alcohol licences.

That proposal is recommended by chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson in his new annual report, which also calls for a minimum price of 50p-per-unit for alcohol.

The report says: "Licensing laws should reflect the full impact of passive drinking, making public health considerations central to licensing."

The health test is included as a licensing objective in Scotland's new Licensing Act.

A spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport - which is responsible for licensing - said: "The question of whether health should be included as a licensing objective in England and Wales was debated thoroughly during the passage of the Licensing Act. The outcome was Parliament decided that it should not be included.

"The Government is seriously concerned about the health impact of alcohol misuse, but believes that these are complex issues that are more appropriately being dealt with through the national alcohol strategy.

"The Licensing Act is about the control and regulation of the sale of alcohol, not its consumption. Alcohol can still be consumed in hazardous quantities in ways well beyond the scope of the Act, such as at home, private parties, on the streets, etc. Licensing law cannot be used to address these health-related concerns.

"There would be a requirement on all licence holders to promote public health objectives. As well as publicans and off-licence retailers, this would also include cinemas, theatres, village halls, indoor sports arenas, school parent teachers associations and others in the third sectors who hold premises licences. It is better to target health objectives through other interventions."

British Beer & Pub Association director of communications Mark Hastings said: "There are more than enough tests in the Licensing Act already that pubs have to address. I don't think having a public health test would be a benefit to society or to pubs."