Market Report 2002: Publicans are against licensing reform bill

More than two thirds of licensees want to scrap the current licensing reform bill and start again from scratch, according to The Publican's Market Report 2002.

Sixty-eight per cent of licensees who responded to the annual survey are not happy with the draft regulations and support the campaign to "Kill the bill" set up by Stuart Neame of Kent brewer Shepherd Neame and JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin.

In particular, they oppose plans for local authority control of licensing which they fear will lead to politically biased decisions and undue emphasis on residents' opinions.

They are also worried about a possible increase in licence fees.

Mr Neame said: "It's now clear that if the government forces licensing reform through against the wishes of licensees it will pay the consequences."

But other trade groups say consultation on the proposals will give the trade the chance to have its say and have warned that opposing the plans may prompt ministers to dismiss trade wrangling and push ahead regardless.

The British Beer & Pub Association's Mark Hastings said: "We are negotiating hard to get a bill that the industry wants and I think during the next few weeks there will be some positive results for the trade.

"The government has said it is committed to producing a bill that will mean less red tape, lower costs and that the powers of local authorities will be strictly defined by national guidelines."

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