Last-ditch opposition to mandatory code dismissed

A peer's last-ditch attempt to convince the government its "draconian" mandatory code of practice is unnecessary failed in Parliament yesterday.

Liberal Democrat Lord Redesdale, who owns a pub, spoke out during a debate in the House of Lords on the conditions in the code.

"Instead of having poorly drafted and draconian legislation, we need to work with the pub industry… and deal with the unregulated drinking that is taking place on every street corner in the country," he said.

But Home Office minister Lord Brett dismissed the objections and the green light was given for the code to take effect.

He denied the code was "draconian", instead saying it was "proportionate".

But he admitted there was "room for improvement in the future".

"This is a proportionate measure to bring some relief to communities that suffer from the misbehaviour and anti-social behaviour of people who induce themselves to get drunk as quickly as possible in circumstances where they are behaving irresponsibly," he added.

The first stage of the code is due to take effect on April 6 and will see "irresponsible" promotions banned and pubs forced to offer free tap water. And the second stage, coming in on October 1, will mean pubs have to offer a 125ml measure of wine and a 25ml or 35ml spirit measure and have an age-check system in place.

Lord Brett also acknowledged there were only five conditions in the code, when the government said there would be nine, but said: "This does not mean that in the future more will not be added or, indeed, some removed."

Earlier he indicated that Heineken and Greene King were among those that had both offered their support for the code.