Lawyer calls for end to laws penalising licensees

A leading licensed trade lawyer has called on the government to stop penalising good licensees through "oppressive legislation".

Speaking at the Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Associations (FLVA) conference in Scarborough, Steven Reynolds, an associate at Kuit Steinart Levy, praised the hard work of licensees in the face of the recent raft of difficult legislation.

"You really do work hard to earn a living and I don't think that is appreciated by the government. You are blamed for so many of the problems in the industry, such as binge-drinking, and actually the legislation that is coming from government to the trade is very oppressive."

Reynolds told delegates there were not enough safeguards to protect good licensees and the government's attitude was to penalise troublemakers rather than reward those doing a good job.

"My plea to the president of the FLVA is for there to be more of a voice in government as there needs to be more done to protect good licensees - too much is done to prosecute the worst offenders."

He also warned that police across the UK were ignoring parts of the guidance of the licensing act by not following best practice by asking the permission of the designated premises provider to close the premises in the event of a violent incident.

Reynolds warned that more and more police were ignoring this and simply issuing closure orders ensuring that they could keep the premises closed for as long as they saw fit and leading to an automatic premises licence review.

"I would plead for the FLVA to ensure that the DCMS guidance is followed and respected by those responsible for enforcing the law," he added.

Other speakers at the conference included Martin Green, director of Redtooth, who discussed the opportunities for pubs in the new gambling regulations, and Rita King, deputy director, pub & leisure, of the British Beer & Pub Assoociation.