Retailers should unite in High Street Charter'

by John Harrington

Pub and club operators should join together to create a High Street Charter to encourage social responsibility in the high street.

That is the view of National Association of Licensed House Managers (NALHM) president Dave Daley, who said managers need a "check list" on vital issues such as not serving under 18s or people who are drunk.

Daley ­ a high-street manager himself, of the Laurel-owned Cahoots in Blackpool ­ said the issue of social responsibility is "still not taken seriously by the big pub companies".

"The trade should have a High Street Charter for high street pubs," he said. "[Pub companies] are not giving us enough help. We are dithering here in the high street and managers are in fear of their jobs."

He said managers are often used as the "scapegoat" for pub companies, taking the flak if there are problems of disorder or under-age sales on the premises. Clear guidelines would help them deal with problems like these on the front line.

Daley praised the way that Yates had taken measures to improve standards, including buttons on tills that allow staff to register when somebody who is drunk or aged under 18 tries to buy alcohol.

He hit out at bonus schemes that are based on sales, arguing that this encourages discounting, which can lead to disorder and puts the manager's own job in jeopardy if the police take action. "If I'm doing a good job [in the eyes of the pub company], I could be out of work," he said.

Daley said high-street pubs are fundamentally different to community pubs, so a code of practice specifically for the high street is needed.

He said there was a big difference between someone going to a community pub and getting merry and going around the circuit getting plastered.

"I don't think community pubs should be penalised for wrongdoing in the high street."