Oldham hits all its bars with reviews

Trading standards have ordered licence reviews of all 22 pubs and clubs in central Oldham to force draconian restrictions on trading — including operating "post office-style" bar queues.

Making venues pay for police, banning customers ordering more than two drinks per visit to the bar and banning drinking in queues are among the alarming measures proposed.

It's believed to be the first time a review of all licences has been called in one go. The British Beer & Pub Association backed Oldham's "objective". Noctis and JD Wetherspoon expressed serious concern, and they all question the legality of the move.

The news follows an escalation in drinks promotions, with several bars running all-inclusive drinks deals. Last week the licence of Brownz in Yorkshire Street was suspended for 28 days after stabbings on the street. Oldham said the promotions cause "greater drunkenness" and "a rise in crime and disorder".

Cllr Mark Alcock said its move is to "help us ensure town-centre bars can operate on a level playing field and do not feel forced to adopt more and more extreme pricing."

BBPA spokesman Mark Hastings said: "We fully support Oldham's objective in tackling and eradicating irresponsible promotions.

"We support action [on drinks promotions] being taken at a national level through the mandatory code currently going through Parliament. This would set a level playing field nationwide and avoid legal problems that could potentially emerge from this type of action."

But he said it's "not clear Oldham has the power to take the blanket action it is proposing".

Noctis boss Paul Smith said: "The whole Licensing Act is not geared towards blanket enforcement and it's a pretty scary precedent. There should be a better solution. I would be very surprised if there's not a number of legal challenges."

John Hutson, chief executive of JDW, which faces reviews at two Oldham pubs, said: "We've all been treated the same. We don't believe irresponsible drinks promotions apply in our two units."

MA legal editor Peter Coulson said: "The law is not yet implemented to let councils set conditions on sets of premises. Oldham is jumping the gun."

Review hearings are due after a 28-day consultation.

Tough restrictions include:​

1. Paying at least two police officers during promotions

2. Having an orderly "post office-style" queuing system:

• no drinking within one metre of the bar

• The start must be at least one metre from the bar with barriers and signage

• No more than two drinks ordered at a time

• At least one door supervisor per queue

• No drinking in the queue

• One queue should be formed of customers awaiting drinks

3. No table service for drinks

4. Giving at least seven days' notice to council and police of "regulated drinks promotions", defined as offering between 9pm and 5am:

• Alcohol for less than 75p per unit

• Alcohol in return for tickets or vouchers

• Discounts over 20%

• Alcohol where the purchase of one drink results in the supply of free drinks

• All-inclusive deals