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 longer.
Many licensees are delighted at the news. The Publican's Market Report 2002 in August this year showed overwhelming support for a new alcohol and entertainment bill.
In fact, licensing reform has been the topic on everyone's lips over the past few years, especially after last year saw the pub trade reeling that the bill was left out of the Queen's Speech, even though voters were wooed with promises that it would be included.
The licensing bill will include flexible opening hours, a new system of personal and premises licence, licensing controlled by local authorities and the abolition of children's certificates and public entertainment licences. But not everybody is happy about all aspects of the bill.
Local authorities v magistrates
A huge 80 per cent of licensees are against local authorities taking control of licensing, according to The Publican's Market Report 2002.
Licensees fear that local authorities will give unfair weight to residents' views and cut back on pub opening hours.
The Magistrates' Association is against the plans. Spokeswoman Anne Flintham said: "We are vehemently opposed to the transference of responsibility for licensing to local authorities. We are the best people for the job."
But Robert Humphreys from the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group said: "Provided the system is sufficiently robust it doesn't matter who runs it. The last say is with the magistrates anyway if people don't agree with a council's decision. That solves the problem."
The British Beer and Pub Association's Mark Hastings said: "Our industry is concerned about local authorities having control but the fact is must deal with it. As long as there are rules and guidelines in place to ensure that local authorities don't have too much power it will be ok."
John McNamara, of the British Institute of Innkeeping, said: "There remains some concern among our members over local authority control and we will be working closely with the government to ensure that the guidance being drawn up for local authorities is appropriate. There is still a long way to go before the bill becomes law and we will demand assurances that there will not be a repeat of the excessive fees and red tape that many experienced with the entertainment licensing system."
Children in pubs
As part of the proposals children will be able to go into pubs in the same way they can go into a hotel, although licensees will have ultimate discretion.
There will be a clampdown on under-18s being able to drink. Currently 16-year-olds and over can have a drink beer, porter, perry or cider if they are eating and are accompanied by an adult. The bill will disallow anyone under 18 to do this.
The BBPA's Mark Hastings said: "The objective of making pubs more family-friendly is positive as it improves the general drink environment and is showing young people that pubs are more about socialising, fun and enjoyment rather than about drinking. It is showing them how to drink responsibly."
The Magistrates' Association spokeswoman Anne Flintham said it was a good idea as long as the right safeguards were in place.
John McNamara said: "We would hope that one of the main effects of these reforms will be to change the attitude of the UK public to alcohol and foster a sensible outlook on drinking. Many pubs will choose not to admit children but where they do, their presence will serve to educate as well as bringing a relaxed family-orientated atmosphere to the outlet."
Longer hours
The trade has overwhelmingly welcomed the move to extend pub opening times. Many think that if pubs employ staggered closing times, crime and binge drinking will fall too.
Anne Flintham said: "Broadly we welcome the move. Current legislation shows it's out of date. Providing the safeguards are in place then we're not opposed to it."
Robert Humphreys said: "It's excellent news. We've been waiting for these reforms for 30 years and it has now happened at last. We've always supported the idea that a singular terminal hour is a bad thing as it encourages binge drinking."
Mark Hastings added: "It's great news. It's not about opening 24 hours but about flexibility - pubs opening when their customers want them to open."
Dual licensing
Although personal licences will allow publicans to work anywhere as a publican, there have been concerns raised over possible conditions applied to the premises licences, with the club industry pushing for capacity limits.
John McNamara said: "The vast majority of our members support this system of dual-licensing and we will continue to meet with ministers on the detail of the new system to ensure it works in practice."
Mark Hastings commented: "It gives licensees a passport to work anywhere in the industry".
Related articles:
Reaction from the industry to licensing reform announcement (14 November 2002)
Public opinion on announcement of relaxed licening laws (14 November 2002)
The changes new licensing laws will bring and when (14 November 2002)
Licensing reform announced in Queen's Speech (13 November 2002)
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