'Lay off our pubs'
Lay off our pubs - that's the stark message to the Local Government Association (LGA) from one trade leader.
The call comes from Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) chief executive Nick Bish after the LGA claimed the Licensing Act had failed to reduce alcohol-fuelled violence.
The LGA said yesterday that seven out of 10 police authorities and Primary Care Trusts had reported an increase or no change in alcohol-related incidents since the relaxation of opening hours.
It also claimed the taxpayer had had to stump up an extra £100m to pay for the new regime.
This is simply not true - according to the ALMR.
The trade body said the figures actually show only 10% of local authorities thought alcohol-related disorder had increased, compared to 25% who thought it had decreased.
"I understand that the LGA has an annual conference to promote but this sort of misleading press comment is not helpful," said chief executive Nick Bish.
"Mounting evidence, including the Government's own far-reaching review, has shown that the Licensing Act has been far from the disaster it is widely portrayed.
"It is high time that bodies such as the LGA laid off our pubs and bars and instead acknowledged the significant steps that they have taken to promote sensible drinking."
British Beer and Pub Association director of communications Mark Hastings added: "LGA chairman Simon Milton should re-read the introduction he wrote to his own licensing policy where he stated quite clearly that alcohol related crime is down.
"He might then review the same statements made by a host of local authorities in their licensing policies.
"The hard facts outweigh the perceptions of this survey - crime is down."
