by John Harington
Hosts in Guernsey have hit out at plans for massive increases in licensing fees, which will be used to fund a campaign to cut alcohol-related problems.
Licensees also criticised plans to only allow children in pubs if they are having a meal.
General licences for pubs would rise five-fold from £100 to £500 under proposals put forward by the island's Home Department.
Other steep rises proposed include an al-fresco permit (up from £100 to £250) and an extended hours permit (£10 to £50). Nightclubs would face the steepest rise of all from £50 to £2,000.
The huge price increases are expected to increase the revenue from licensing four-fold, from the current level of £50,920 to between £195,350 and £217,250.
The money raised will go towards the island's alcohol strategy, which aims to cut problems associated with alcohol through a mixture of education, treatment and monitoring the actions of pubs and clubs.
Guernsey Licensed Victuallers Association (GLVA) president Cindy De Jersey said if the proposals were passed, her combined fees would leap from £150 to £750.
In a letter to the department, on behalf of the GLVA, De Jersey outlined licensee's views that the rises are too steep.
"We realise that prices have got to go up but we think they should be in line with the retail price index," said De Jersey, tenant of the La Fontane Inn, which is owned by Guernsey-based Randalls Brewery.
Another proposal is to replace the family permit, which allows children in the pub, and replace it with a meal permit that means under 18s are only allowed in the pub if they are having a meal.
On this plan, De Jersey said: "We fought to have a family environment and they want to take this away."
She added: "We always think we create a family ambience and this represents a step backwards."