MyShout

Pubs are under increasing attack and Peter Linacre believes it's up to the trade to organise and take action

Attack, attack attack - that seems to be the overwhelming position of all the statutory bodies towards the pub sector at the moment. What's more, we experience different styles of attack from the same bodies in different boroughs.

Whether it is the fire brigades, the environmental health officers, the police or the local authorities, the tune may be slightly different, but the song is the same: "Do it my way - or else!" It really is as if the very worst scenarios for the industry prior to the 2003 Licensing Act are now the best-case scenarios. The agenda seems straightforward - if there is a problem, then it's the pub to blame.

I had an off-the-record conversation with a senior police officer in central London last week. This followed a visit by him to one of our sites where there has never been police attendance required in the six years it has been open. I pointed out to him that prior to the 2003 Act, the way in which we interfaced with the police was to have regular conversations that usually resulted in agreement and a way forward for everyone.

Those conversations seem to have been replaced with closure notices. He agreed, pointing out that he could have gone straight to the courts to have us closed if he'd had any real concerns about what was going on.

The same Draconian approach can be seen from environmental health departments - these are usually staffed by very young recruits straight from college. No two local authorities behave in the same way - each interprets the rules to suit their own preferences.

The newly re-empowered fire brigades are also seeking immediate remedies at pubs that often require complex solutions, particularly at historic sites.

What shall we do? All the reviews of legislation currently under way, the work by the trade associations and feedback to the parliamentary committees are essential, but I do not believe that this will be enough.

There is a pervasive view in the non-pub press that pubs are to blame for many of societies ills. We need to get our act together. We need to speak out loud, more broadly and even to consider promoting and advertising the fact that pubs and beer are good.

No one else is going to do it for us. It seems baffling to me that the major pubcos, for example, seem so hostile to the idea that a positive media campaign could be beneficial. As they derive all their income from pubs, surely it would be in their interest to be active.

Many smaller companies are prepared to invest in promoting our businesses more broadly. But what we need is leadership from some of the major players who are prepared to put themselves in the vanguard to improve our image.

I am sure you can guess who I feel would make great leaders of such a campaign; give them a call and ask them to take on the challenge.