Regulations review could cut red tape for pubs

The Government's review of business regulation is an opportunity to remove burdens on pubs, including the mandatory alcohol retailing code.

That's according to trade chiefs, in response to today's announcement that the Government is to immediately review all regulation in the pipeline for implementation inherited from the last Government.

This will be the first action of the new Reducing Regulation Committee, chaired by business secretary Vince Cable.

One regulation the industry wants to halt is the second stage of the mandatory code, set to come into force on 1 October. This requires pubs to offer drinks in smaller servings and ask ID from anyone who appears underage.

Industry support​

BII chief executive Neil Robertson said: "This [review] is massively important and the BII will be engaging assertively with it. We have already been pushing for the mandatory code to be de-regulated and we have received encouraging responses.

"We have quite a good relationship with the better regulation team and will have productive discussions with them. I'm more optimistic about our chance of success on this area with the Government than with others."

Robertson said it's an opportunity to discuss other areas such as health and safety and employment regulations.

He was "less optimistic" of success around council-led bureaucracy, because of the Government's fondness of devolving power to local authorities.

British Beer & Pub Association director of communications Mark Hastings said: "This is an opportunity to look far more broadly than just the mandatory code and to mount a robust and coherent case for the rationalisation and removal of a range of regulations that currently beset the sector and block growth.

"In particular licensing, which would benefit greatly from simplifying and streamlining, but we also need to look right across the piece: employment, taxation, health and safety etc."

The Government has also promised a "one-in, one-out" approach to regulations to reduce the burden of red tape.

Cable said: "The deluge of new regulations has been choking off enterprise for too long. We must move away from the view that the only way to solve problems is to regulate."