Alcohol Concern goads trade over binge-drinking

The pub trade has been left fuming after Alcohol Concern accused it of "running scared" on the issue of binge-drinking.

The organisation has stoked the flames of the debate further by crowing that it is now kicking the trade "harder than we've ever kicked it before".

Speaking at the organisation's annual general meeting this week, Alcohol Concern's acting chief executive Richard Phillips (pictured)​ attacked operators for playing a part in the crime and health problems associated with binge-drinking.

Despite ongoing efforts from licensees, pubcos and drink companies to eradicate this problem, Mr Phillips singled out the faults of a minority of operators.

He also claimed that the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy, published by the government in April this year, will give organisations such as Alcohol Concern more power to pressure for changes to pubs.

Addressing 100 delegates - with no representation from the trade - Mr Phillips said: "Alcohol Concern needs to stay firm in its role on this. We can become an ally of those who are trying to solve the problem but pick off those who don't."

Mr Phillips' scathing comments immediately drew criticism from those who have worked tirelessly to clean up the image of pubs.

John McNamara, chief executive at the British Institute of Innkeeping, said: "In a couple of sentences Mr Phillips has undone all the months and years of hard work by front-line licensees and trade associations which are dealing with these problems. We are not the problem, we're part of the solution."

Bernard Brindley of the White Lion Inn, Rugby, Warwickshire, added: "The trade has been hit so hard by the media over binge-drinking but licensees are doing a lot to deal with this issue.

"The police need to take some responsibility - they have not been dealing with the trade properly for 20 years."

Also stirring trouble for the trade at the meeting was Steven Green, the chief constable of Nottinghamshire Police, who has become notorious for his views of laying the blame for alcohol-related crime at the door of publicans.

Although Mr Green initially stated he did not have the answer for who was to blame on alcohol-related crime, he went on to point the finger once again at the trade.

"The summer clampdown has demonstrated the scale of this problem," he said.

"The talk of 24-hour drinking under the new Licensing Act is based on the premise that the trade is responsible but I'm not convinced that this is the case."