Mark Hastings

BBPA says goodbye to communications chief

15-Nov-2010 By James Wilmore

The British Beer & Pub Association has parted company with its director of communications, Mark Hastings. Hastings stepped down from the role on...

Minimum pricing - the issue that won't go away

09-Jul-2009 By James Wilmore

Would 80p be an acceptable level for a minimum price on a unit of alcohol? Should pubs be forced to cap the amount they charge for soft drinks? How...

Trade hits out at tax hikes

25-Nov-2008 By Matt Eley Matt

Trade groups have slammed Alistair Darling's announcement today that he will raise alcohol tax eight per cent to cover a drop in VAT. Mark Hastings,...

Fair Pint and BBPA lock horns on Radio 4

07-Nov-2008 By James Wilmore

Anti-pubco group Fair Pint and the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) locked horns today over the pubco model during a debate on BBC Radio...

BBPA highlights "what's going on in the real world

09-Oct-2008

A senior trade figure has today launched a fresh attack on the government's figures used within the Safe, Sensible, Social consultation. Speaking at...

Pub code on promotions is illegal

25-Jun-2008 By John Harrington

BBPA's voluntary code on cheap drinks deals has been withdrawn

Keg deposit scheme will be cash-neutral

06-Dec-2007 By John Harrington

The forthcoming keg-deposit scheme will be "cash-neutral" for licensees

Refused: one million youngsters a month

29-Nov-2007 By John Harrington reports on last week's Responsible

The trade must shout louder about its achievements in responsible retailing - and not be blamed for factors beyond its control. That was the message...

Trade faces battle with health lobby over alcohol

07-Nov-2007 By James Wilmore

The pub industry has been urged to prepare itself for a major and lengthy battle with health lobby groups over the issue of alcohol. Speaking at the...

Assaults against bar staff on the rise

05-Oct-2007

A growing number of bar staff are being verbally threatened and assaulted for refusing to serve underage drinkers, delegates at the British Beer...

Beware: police sting starts today

04-May-2007 By John Harrington

Three out of four police forces to take part in the 10-week national sting operation

BBPA pledges to fight blanket glass bans

05-Apr-2007

Calls for blanket bans "growing like bushfire' says trade group

Peer calls for labels to help child health

15-Feb-2007 By Ewan Turney ewan.turney@william-reed.co.uk

A Labour Peer has called for all cans and bottles of alcohol to carry health warnings aimed at pregnant women. At the end of January, Lord Mitchell...

Tax inconsistency slammed by BBPA

22-Mar-2006

Gordon Brown's latest penny-a-pint hike on the price of beer has been attacked by the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA). Mark Hastings, the...

BBPA urges all licensees to lobby MP over smoke ban

08-Feb-2006 By Iain O'Neil

All licensees should take the time to write to their MP today or risk clubs being exempt from a smoke ban - that's the message from the BBPA.

Licensing applications flooding in says LACORS

20-Jul-2005

Applications for the new licences are now going into local authorities by the "barrel load", with growing numbers of pubs being granted extended...

Bottle of Hastings

19-Dec-2002

Mark Hastings, communications boss at the British Beer & Pub Association, spends much of his time sticking up for the hospitality trade. So it...

Focus on reform

14-Nov-2002

The government has finally told the trade and pub-goers what they want to hear - licensing laws will be reformed, paving the way for pubs to open...