Trade groups question licensing shake-up

By James Wilmore

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Responsibility Government Public house Kate nicholls

Trade figures have been left disappointed by the details of government's licensing regime shake-up. Kate Nicholls of the Association of Licensed...

Trade figures have been left disappointed by the details of government's licensing regime shake-up.

Kate Nicholls of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers branded the consultation a "missed opportunity".

"I had hoped for a more creative approach, but it's just the same old story," she said. "It's particularly disappointing after the Conservatives pledged to save the pub before the election."

The consultation, launched today, includes a host of new plans to help deal with alcohol-related problems, including a hike in licence fees and having a health objective in the Licensing Act.

Nicholls pointed out there was a lot potential new red tape for pubs to deal with, but not much was being removed.

"There's a lot of big stick, but no sign of a carrot," she added.

She also attacked the lack of action against the off-trade, despite the threat of a ban on below-cost selling.

"It still does nothing to address the problem of the rising tide of unregulated consumption in the home," Nicholls said.

Brigid Simmonds, the British Beer & Pub Association's chief executive, said many of the new powers already existed and just needed to be used properly.

"A very positive result that could come from this review is greater clarity for local people, local authorities and local police about the powers they do have and greater encouragement to use them," she said.

Simmonds also called for a "renewed focus" on individual responsibility.

"While it is absolutely right to hold business to account, it is equally vital to hold individuals responsible for their behaviour - drunken louts need to be penalised for the menace they cause to their communities," she said.

And she bemoaned the fact the government had pinned the overhaul on so-called "24-hour drinking".

She said: "24-hour drinking is and always has been an enormous urban myth - great for headline writers, but far from reality."

On the below-cost ban, the Wine and Spirit Trade Association said it supported a ban on selling below the level of duty plus VAT.

Spokesman Gavin Partington said: "We hope any changes in this area focus on tackling problem drinkers and premises and don't add unnecessary costs and burdens to the vast majority of responsible consumers and businesses."

Mark Hunter, chief executive of Molson Coors, said it hoped the government would "work together with industry to help create cultural change and tackle the country's problem drinking without penalising pubs, responsible drinkers or local industry".

He also repeated a call for a minimum price for alcohol.

"We believe that an approach whereby we can build respect for alcohol is needed and the introduction of a minimum price would be a more efficient tool to reduce alcohol harm than a rise in duty."

Related topics Licensing law

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