BBPA: give us longer to respond to ADZ guidance
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has slammed the Home Office for giving just three days to respond to re-drafted guidance on Alcohol Disorder Zones (ADZs).
The introduction of controversial ADZs has been hit by further delays after regulations on the plan were withdrawn over flaws in the wording of the complaints procedure for local authorities.
Guidance on ADZs has also been re-drafted and the BBPA has been asked to respond.
BBPA chief executive Rob Hayward said they received the re-drafted guidance on Monday and have until today to respond.
Hayward said: "We have been given three days even though the Home Office has acknowledged that the guidance has been substantially drafted.
"This is not a consultation process when in a week when a lot of people are on holiday, and when we have been waiting for re-written regulations and guidance for many weeks, we are given no more than three days,
"We will write to the Home Office to say this is unacceptable."
He added: "This is just further confirmation that a piece of legislation introduced in a hurry in 2005 was badly thought out and badly drafted, and the new ministers at the Home Office have been left to pick up the pieces."
Pubs that find themselves in ADZs could be forced to pay a levy towards the cost of alcohol-related disorder.
The introduction of ADZs has been hit by continuing delays. A Home Office spokesman said he could not say when councils will get the green light to push for ADZs.
