New government could hit industry over alcohol health concerns

Trade chief Nick Bish has warned the biggest threat for pubs under the new government could come from the Department of Health.

Bish, chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, said he was glad there was a "genuine government" now in place.

And he dismissed fears of plans to take licensing back to the Home Office, saying it would be a "tidier" situation.

But he added: "The area that the pub industry should be looking at is the Department of Health, that could be the concern."

Many in the trade are worried about the continued demonisation of alcohol, partly led by the health lobby, which is having an increasing influence on government policy.

Despite these concerns, Bish said he had met the new Health Secretary, the Conservative Andrew Lansley, and he was "approachable". "We will make it our business to put the case for pubs," he said.

Bish also suggested a VAT rise in an emergency Budget was a "racing certainty".

But he welcomed the idea of a five-year fixed term government, saying it would allow the ALMR to be more "strategic" and draw up a shopping list for the trade when "things calm down".

On the possibility of the new government appointing a new pubs minister to replace John Healey, Bish urged the trade "not to hold its breath".

Menawhile BII chief Neil Robertson said: "I remain of the view that coalitions are not as bad as many fear.

"The whole country is saying 'get your act together on the deficit' and I am reasonably confident that they will.

"The issue for us is that consumers and industry are expecting a VAT increase, but what we need to do is to curb any temptation to increase duty which would have a detrimental effect."