The pub industry has accused the government of turning to new legislation as “a first resort” following a damning report by KPMG for the Home Office and Department of Health.
Industry body the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has joined fellow pub lobby group the British Beer & Pub Association in attacking the Government for its desire to use new legislation to control the retail of alcohol.
ALMR head of communications Kate Nicholls, said: “Once again we see the Government turning to new legislation for all as a first resort.
“The vast majority of drinkers consume alcohol responsibly and the vast majority of pubs and bars retail alcohol responsibly. It is the irresponsible few that give the industry a bad name and we call on the Government to focus on that minority.”
She added that there were plenty of existing regulations and powers that could be used more effectively and the Government should look to use these ahead of new laws.
Nicholls concurred with Mark Hastings, director of communications at the British Beer & Pub Association, who said yesterday: “There are plenty of laws and regulations to deal with irresponsible pubs and people.”
After the Government announced an increase in alcohol taxes in the Budget in March pub trade bodies were accused of not lobbying cohesively and effectively.
The KPMG report accuses the on-trade, and the wider drinks industry, of not adhering to its agreed voluntary standards and calls for mandatory, rather than voluntary, retail codes to be introduced.
A consultation on mandatory codes for the retail of alcohol will run until October.
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By Christopher Walton
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