Best practice guide out at last

by John Harrington

After 12 drafts, the long-awaited national standards document for the drinks industry is set to be released tomorrow.

It will act as a guide for councils and police and includes best practice for pubs, producers and off-licences.

The 39-page document, entitled Social Responsibility Standards for the Production and Sale of Alcoholic Drinks in the UK, sets operating standards for pubs, clubs, drinks producers and the off-trade.

Advice includes not serving drunks or minors and avoiding promotions such as all-inclusives and drinking games.

The booklet includes the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) code on drinks promotions, the Bar Entertainment & Dance Association (BEDA) dispersal policy, and the Portman Group's code on responsible drinks marketing.

It is supported by 16 trade bodies for all sections of the industry and is backed by the Home Office and the Department for Culture, Media & Sport.

'It's a document operators will be very comfortable with,' said BEDA chief executive Jon Collins.

Trade leaders stress it will be a reference guide for councils and police, rather than a legally-binding agreement.

'This is the industry saying that it will regulate itself in line with best practice,' said John McNamara, chief executive of the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping), which signed the document.

'I think we've had enough legislation in the last few years. This shows the industry is standing up for itself.'

But trade bodies said the nature of the document, with different sections for the various areas of the drinks trade, will make it difficult to be incorporated into council licensing policies.

'I don't think it's feasible to be incorporated into licensing policies,' said McNamara. 'It is the industry saying, 'these are the standards, the minimum benchmark'.'

Plans for a national document, originally called a Code of Good Practice, were outlined by the Government in its National Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy, released last year.

The document was expected to be released a few months ago but was delayed because ministers were keen to 'toughen up some of the language', said Collins. In total, 12 draft versions of the document were drawn up before it was agreed by Government and the trade bodies. 'The timing has been driven by Government,' Collins added. 'Ministers are looking for a positive piece of news.'

Other groups to sign the document include the Wine & Spirit Association and the British Retail Consortium, which represents supermarkets.