Mandatory alcohol code: room for improvement

There is "room for improvement" in the controversial mandatory alcohol retailing code, a Government minister has said.

Lord Brett gave his view as Lords rubber stamped the new powers in Parliament last night, where the code was attacked once again for being a disproportionate cost to licensees.

Under the code, certain drinks deals will banned and free tap water must be provided from 6 April. From 1 October, asking ID from anyone who appears underage and smaller drinks measures will be compulsory.

Home Office minister Brett said the code is "not draconian; it is proportionate".

"There is, I am sure, room for improvement in the future. I am sure we will return to this when further evidence is available."

He said guidance on the code "will be in plain English to make it very clear what will fall clearly on one side and clearly on the other side of what is deemed to be responsible".

"The guidance will be encouraging those who seek to make a promotion...to first approach their local authorities if they have any doubts."

Attack​

Lord Redesdale, who chairs the Best Bar None scheme, attacked the code during the debate.

He questioned the need for the code when current licensing laws are not being enforced properly.

Redesdale said alcohol-related violence is "often due to very cheap alcohol" from supermarkets, caused by the "phenomenal" number of off-licence premises.

He pointed to the success of Best Bar None, saying the Durham scheme led to a 36% fall in city centre violent crime.

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

ID scheme​

Lord Skelmersdale hit out at details of the code, such as the requirement to ID anyone who appears to be under 18.

"This section does little more than provide premises with more confusion and bureaucracy, which this struggling industry certainly does not need."

He also questioned where this leaves Challenge 21 and Challenge 25. However, Brett said "it does not bring an end to Challenge 21" and anyone who operated that policy properly "would not be punished".

Brett said: "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.

"Those landlords and others who do not support the responsible drinking patterns that most of us have make up the minority."