Mandatory code consultation "a nonsense

By Matt Eley Matt

- Last updated on GMT

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A multiple operator has described a consultation session into government plans for new responsible retailing laws as "a nonsense". Michael Kheng,...

A multiple operator has described a consultation session into government plans for new responsible retailing laws as "a nonsense".

Michael Kheng, who runs six pubs with his company the Kurnia Group in Lincolnshire, attended yesterday's consultation session on the mandatory code in Nottingham.

Unlike previous sessions the 100 places were all filled and about 10 per cent present were from the trade, including licensees, but Kheng was unimpressed.

He said: "The whole thing is a nonsense and if people don't go to these and make their feelings clear it will just go ahead.

"It didn't appear that those running it really new about the issues so I hope they take our comments on board and this is not just a rubber-stamping exercise."

Kheng added that the majority of attendees were from local authorities or the police but that the majority agreed the code was not necessary.

"The thing that kept coming up was that most of the issues this sets out to address can already be dealt with by the Licensing Act - why do we need something else?

"The only positive thing that came out was that there should be a standard short measure - wither 25ml or 35ml, so people know what they have had to drink."

The mandatory code, which is currently working its way through Parliament, sets out to tackle retailing with measures including a clampdown on promotions.

A series of consultation meetings are taking place across the country to give people a chance to have their say on the plans.

The remaining meetings are set to take place in Birmingham (July 21), Cambridge (July 23), Portsmouth (July 28), Cardiff (July 30), Weymouth (August 4) and London (August 6).

To find out more about how you can have your say visit www.alcoholconsultation.com

Related topics Legislation

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