Parties fire final shots in election campaign
Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have fired their final shots of the election campaign in a bid to address the issues affecting the pub trade.
In an exclusive question and answer session with The Publican, Labour has confirmed it will include alcohol disorder zones as part of a Violent Crime Reduction Bill, if it wins the election.
Tough new measures on guns, knives and alcohol-related offences will also be included in the bill, including banning orders for drunken yobs who commit crime.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives have vowed to introduce more police officers - 5,000 a year for the next eight years - as part of its proposed crackdown on alcohol-related violence.
The party claims it would put a stop to "irresponsible" drinks promotions and strengthen the powers of councils to block late licence extensions in problem areas.
The Liberal Democrats have said they would put a stop to the introduction of extended licensing hours, claiming police and councils need longer to prepare.
Meanwhile, the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has announced what its priorities will be for the newly-elected government.
It will call on the elected party to pursue policies that encourage employment and productivity growth within the industry and encourage corporate social responsibility.
Mark Hastings, director of communications at the BBPA, said: "We recognise our responsibilities and are committed to driving up standards, good practice and making self-regulation work.
"We also need to ensure that the laws we have are rigorously enforced. We must close down the small number of pubs that cause problems for their communities and blight the reputation of the sector."
Pictured: Michael Howard takes some time out from the election at the Waterguard in Cardiff Bay.
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Labour, the Conservatives and the Lib Dems answer key election questions posed by readers of The Publican. Click hereto read the full article.
