Licensees urged to respond on levy and EMROs

The BBPA says the proposals, which would allow local councils to restrict premises in certain areas from selling alcohol between midnight and 6am, and to levy a new tax on certain premises open after midnight, will impose unfair additional burdens on pubs.

In its own detailed submission, the BBPA will highlight a number of issues:

• Undermine the Government’s commitment to tackle red tape for small businesses and go against the Government’s ‘one-in, one-out’ commitment to contain regulation.

• Exclude casinos, restaurants and hotel bars, putting an unfair burden on pubs. The BBPA claims there should be no exemptions from either EMROs or LNL based on ‘type’ of premises and that if these measures are to be introduced all premises licensed for the late night sale and supply of alcohol should be subject to them.

• Undermine successful local partnerships between the police, local councils and the pub trade. The BBPA agrees with National Pubwatch that the proposals would damage existing schemes which could take years to recover, and if businesses are forced to pay a further tax, they would be far less willing to continue to voluntarily fund and support the full range of initiatives that currently benefit the local community - such as Pubwatch, Best Bar None and Business Improvement Districts.

• Challenge the key principle of the Licensing Act 2003, which says that premises should be dealt with ‘on their own merits’. The BBPA wants discounts to be down to local authority discretion rather than proscribed by central Government. A range of reductions to 100 per cent should be available to local authorities, for membership of established schemes such as Pubwatch, Best Bar None and Business Improvement Districts.

• Encourage a new tax on local businesses. 70% of the money raised by the Levy will go to the police, with no restriction on how they spend the money, or where. Councils, on the other hand, are constrained on how they use the money.

The measures are expected to be introduced as part of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act later this year.

BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: “I hope publicans will make their voice heard on these proposals. While the Home Office estimates the cost to business as a result of these proposals to be between £19m and £26m per year, the figure could be far higher, as the effect of EMROs has not been included.

“If these proposals are to go ahead, there should be no exemptions that push the bill up for pubs, and local authorities should be allowed to grant flexible discounts, if they believe that an existing scheme is working well in their area.”