Mandatory code hits the road
The Government is embarking on a 10-day national tour to "inform the future development" of its controversial mandatory alcohol retailing code.
Home Office officials are to discuss the plan with local representatives of the industry, plus police, councils and others during each event.
Entry is by invitation only. See www.alcoholconsultation.co.uk for details of how to apply.
Around 100 places are available and the day-long events are being held this month and the next.
The planned mandatory code will see all licensees forced to abide by strict new trading conditions, including serving drinks in smaller containers and not running certain drinks promotions. Councils will get to inflict tougher conditions at multiple venues in hotspots.
The Home Office said the events will "inform the future development of this policy".
The aim is to "get the balance right" — reducing alcohol-related harm "in a targeted and proportionate way that does not harm businesses that are behaving responsibly".
In a message to stakeholders, the Home Office said: "We want you to be involved so that you can tell us how to improve the policy and how it will work in practice. We also invite examples of good practice, evidence of the costs of implementing the code and evidence of the potential impact of these proposals."
Events take place in Newcastle (7 July), Hull (9 July), Liverpool (14 July), Nottingham (16 July), Birmingham (21 July), Cambridge (23 July), Portsmouth (28 July), Cardiff (20 July), Weymouth (4 August) and London (6 August).
Earlier this month six trade bodies wrote a joint letter to the Home Office urging the mandatory code to be dumped. Lord Redesdale, chairman of the industry-backed Best Bar None scheme, has tabled an amendment to remove the code from the Policing and Crime Bill.
