Publican forces Mail slogan u-turn

The Publican has claimed a victory in its fight to highlight the Daily Mail's unfair treatment of pubs over the new Licensing Act.​ Last month The Publican launched the "Say No To The Daily Mail" campaign in response to the paper's damaging and misleading articles about the new legislation.

Our campaign has quickly gathered steam with hundreds of licensees pledging their support, as well as exposure in the national press.

And now in a dramatic u-turn the Mail has dropped its "Say No To 24-Hour Pubs" campaign slogan, replacing it with "Say No to 24-Hour Drinking". An article that appeared in the September 24 edition of the paper carried an amended logo.

Last Wednesday The Guardian reported that The Publican had "scored a direct hit on Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre in the 'Say No' wars".

Before the change a senior member of the Daily Mail's management team saidThe Publican had "made a good point" when quizzed as to why the campaign slogan targeted pubs when the paper claimed to be targeting 24-hour drinking in its attacks. He added that the Daily Mail "would address the issue", and now it appears that it has.

Licensees and trade leaders have expressed their delight at the Daily Mail's about-turn, but remained critical of its stance. James Cracknell, licensee at the Coach and Horses, in Clapham, South London, said: "It's a huge victory. I didn't think I'd ever see the Daily Mail stand down over anything and now they have.

"But I would still like to see them expand on that and clarify the situation."

David Drew, licensee at the Marlborough Arms, in Chester, said he was "delighted" by the change. But he added: "I'm still not happy with how the Daily Mail has stirred it up. It's left a very sour taste in my mouth."

The Mail reignited its campaign during the summer once the number of pubs applying for extended licences increased. Numerous reports appeared painting pubs in a bad light and implying licensees are acting irresponsibly.

However, only a handful of pubs have applied for round-the-clock licenses and the majority only want to stay open for an extra hour or two at the weekends.

Tony Payne, chief executive of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Associations, said: "It's nice to see that the Daily Mail has seen sense".

Meanwhile Nick Bish, chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, congratulated The Publican for "pressing the right buttons".

But he added: "We have to keep up the pressure and reach out to the public to show them how the industry is part of the solution and not part of the problem. It is the end of the beginning."

All attempts by The Publican to ask the Daily Mail why it had changed the slogan were met with silence.