Pub closures won't stop teen boozers
Trade warns PM that 24-hour closure orders for problem pubs are irrelevant
by Ewan Turney
Trade leaders have warned Tony Blair that tough new proposals to give police the power to close down premises found to beserving under-age drinkers for 24 hours are irrelevant and will not solve the problem.
Blair and Home Secretary David Blunkett unveiled the new policy at Sheffield's Purple Bar a venue that had suffered from an under-age drinking problem in the past. The Government plans to extend police powers to shut disorderly premises for 24-hours to those who serve under-18s on a persistent basis.
"You cannot sell alcohol to young people under the age that the law stipulates and get away with it," said Blair. "We will look for the first legislative opportunity to make sure that the police have the power to close licensed premises for 24 hours and do that immediately if there is a problem with persistent underage drinking."
The PM was also concerned about the impact of binge drinking on those below the legal age limit. "Under-age drinking goes on, we all know that, we have all experienced it throughout our lives," he said.
"However, it is pernicious if it is happening on a regular basis, it can be very, very damaging for the young people, for their health, if they are continually engaged in often very heavy drinking at an early age."
The British Beer & Pub Association condemned the "small minority tarnishing the industry's good name" but said it did not see how closing premises for 24 hours would help the issue. "It's worth remembering that the powers the police already have are much tougher than those proposed," said director of communications Mark Hastings. "All offenders can be prosecuted and repeat offenders can lose their licence."
Morning Advertiser legal editor Peter Coulson slammed the proposals as a "convenient sound-bite". He said: "I don't believe they have thought this through properly. I'm not sure why it is arelevant measure to close the pub down. Disorder I can understand, as it stops the risk immediately, but under-age drinkers can be booted out very easily."
Coulson reassured licensees they were not at immediate risk during the Christmas blitz as the policy would require primary legislation, which would be some time in coming.
Chief executive of the Feder-ation of Licensed Victuallers Associations, Tony Payne, called for the offenders to be fined as well as the licensee. "My big worry is that nothing happens to the offender," he said.
"They should take some of the blame and there should also be an element of parental responsibility involved. Parents must know what their kids are up to when they go out dressed like a 20-year-old."
However, one trade body, the Wine & Spirit Association (WSA), threw its full weight behind the policy.
"This is exactly the kind of measure we need something fast-acting and clearly target-ed at the trouble-making minority rather than hitting the majority of law-abiding premises and sensible, adult drinkers," said chief executive Quentin Rappoport.
l Coulson column p16
Purple Bar shows the way
Under-18s were commonplace in Purple Bar just three months ago, before new general manager Phil Davis arrived. Every person wishing to enter the late-night bar must now be searched and show ID while they are all filmed and photographed. "We are a benchmark venue for the sort of work the police feel needs to be done in Sheffield and I think it sends out a message to other bars in the city," Davis told The Star in Sheffield. "We turned away a massive amount of money and custom but we have taken it on the chin and now we are making a profit again."
