Trade bodies in late night levy talks

06-Oct-2011 - Last updated on 07-Oct-2011 at 07:24 GMT

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Pub trade bodies are meeting with Home Office officials and local authorities to discuss the implementation of the late-night levy (LNL) and early-morning restriction orders (EMROs).

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) met the Institute of Licensing to discuss the changes, which come in as part of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act. LNLs will apply fees for any premises opening after midnight and EMROs can introduce blanket bans on late opening across districts and towns.

The BBPA’s northern secretary Lee Le Clercq said: “Among the 60 local authorities represented at the meetings, none is ‘champing at the bit’ to introduce additional restrictions on the trade.”

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) is also meeting local authorities and ministers to ensure the extra powers for local authorities do not hit responsible licensees.

Its head of strategy Kate Nicholls said: “We need to have the facts, and there is still a lot of work to do with the details.”