Mandatory code gets thumbs down in Notts

Eight out of 10 people at the latest Home Office roadshow on the mandatory alcohol retailing code believed it would not have a positive impact.

That's according to British Beer and Pub Association Midlands secretary Richard Matthews, who was at the event in Nottingham yesterday. Police and council members made up the majority of the audience.

He said those who attended were asked if they thought the planned code - which is under consultation until 5 August - would raise standards within the industry or reduce crime levels.

The code will see pubs forced to abide by several mandatory conditions, including curbs on drinks promotions and providing smaller drinks servings. Councils can impose harsher conditions on multiple venues locally in hotspots.

"At the start of the day they hadn't made up their minds, with more agreeing [with the statement] from the local authority point of view. At the end of the day around 80% disagreed or strongly disagreed," said Matthews.

"It was swinging that way throughout the day. The arguments by people like Michael Kheng [boss of bar operator Kurnia Group] helped swing things around."

The Nottingham event, the fourth out of 10 regional roadshows taking place nationally this month and the next, was better attended than previous ones.

Almost all the 100 places were taken, said Matthews, with a "minority of industry representatives but very vocal minority".

"The Home Office was left in no uncertain terms that the industry doesn't want this at all."

Unlike in the first two events in Newcastle and Hull, licensees attended the Nottingham meeting, including managers of Kurnia bars.

Representatives of Everards, Ever So Sensible Bars and Town & City Pub Company were among those at the Nottingham event.

The next one takes place in Birmingham on 21 July then Cambridge (23 July), Portsmouth (28 July), Cardiff (30 July), Weymouth (4 August) and London (6 August).

See www.alcoholconsultation.com for more information.