Fears over licensing reform
Pubs could be lumped with costly new conditions on their licences under a proposed one-word change to a definition in licensing law, trade experts have warned.
Fears were raised about the Government's plan to let licensing authorities apply conditions to licences that are "appropriate", rather than "necessary", during a debate in Parliament yesterday.
British Beer and Pub Association chief executive Brigid Simmonds cited official estimates that this would cost the industry an extra £300,000 to £600,000.
"The only thing that they consider is that local authorities may wish to impose conditions around additional doorstaff. I have far more concerns about it.
"We have had local authorities and police who have tried to impose things like CCTV, plastic glasses. That may be appropriate for certain types of pubs but it certainly isn't necessary for lots of pubs.
"There is a real concern that we will have local authorities wanting to put all sorts of additional conditions because these conditions they consider to be appropriate but they are not necessary."
Simmonds said it's a "crucial issue" as amendments are considered to the Police Reform & Social Responsibility Bill, which contains the plans for reform of licensing.
Real concerns
Morning Advertiser legal editor Peter Coulson agreed.
"This change to appropriate will indeed allow the environmental health officer to come along with a set of what would be considered appropriate conditions, but not necessary ones. Some of these conditions will in fact cost money for the licensee.
"It is really quite inappropriate to change that word!"
Andy Grimsey, solicitor at Poppleston Allen, also had "real concerns" about the use of the word appropriate, which "doesn't really have any legal definition" and is "much more vague" than 'necessary'.
The All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group and the Save the Pub Group hosted the meeting to discuss the controversial proposals to change licensing.
Underage
This includes doubling the maximum fine for persistent underage sales to £20,000. Simmonds suggested that the fine should only apply to those venues that have an intent to sell to under-18s, and she urged more training orders as an alternative.
There were also calls for a cap on licensing fees to stop councils using the trade to generate money, and for money generated by the late night levy to be allocated to schemes that focus on the late night sector.
* It's not too late to have your say on the Bill. The Public Bill Committee is to scrutinise the Bill between 18 January and 17 February and is taking submissions from the public. For more information, email taking fpehgval@cneyvnzrag.hx.
