CAMRA: no late-night levy for community pubs

08-Sep-2010 - Last updated on 12-Mar-2017 at 03:39 GMT

Mike Benner: CAMRA chief executive

Pubs that make a "substantial contribution to the local community" should be exempt from the late-night levy, says the Campaign for Real Ale.

Pubs deemed to make a "substantial contribution to the local community" - and those receiving business rate relief - should be exempt from the proposed late-night levy.

So says the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), in its submission for the Government consultation on overhauling the Licensing Act.

CAMRA has also called for a "floor price" of between 35 and 40p per alcohol unit to curb cheap supermarket deals.

CAMRA said it opposed late night levies, saying they will "deter investment in licensed premises" and are "likely to lead to the loss of valued community amenities".

The group argued for exemptions from the late night levy for pubs that close before midnight and those that qualify for rate relief.

CAMRA argued for a scheme of reductions for pubs that make a "substantial contribution to the local community".

It also said venues that have to pay the levy should be allowed to tender for a more competitive quote for the additional services.

On the plan to ban the sale of alcohol below cost, CAMRA rubbished calls to define this as VAT plus duty, saying production costs must be included.

Its plan for a set floor price, to be annually updated in line with inflation, would have a "significant impact on alcohol prices in the off-trade" but "a negligible impact on moderate drinkers and no impact on the price of alcohol sold in the pub".

Elsewhere, CAMRA's submission includes a range of suggestions to make the Government's plans fairer for pubs,

For example, it opposes the plan to increase licence fees based on full cost recovery, saying this will remove the incentive for councils to maximise their efficiency. CAMRA wants fees to be frozen.

CAMRA also opposes the idea of including the prevention of harm as a licensing objective, saying an "unintended consequence" could be health bodies opposing every application in an area.

This would increase the costs of the licensing system and fail to distinguish between "well-run community pubs" and "premises which could potentially pose a health risk".

Overall, the submission is highly critical of the planned policies.

It says: "Unless substantially amended, this package of measures will impose significant harm to consumers, the hospitality sector and tourism."

The consultation closed yesterday (Wednesday 8 September).