Pubs could face even more licensing conditions

Pubs could be hit with a host of new licensing conditions as part of a government plan to clampdown on irresponsible venues.

The plan is among a number of options unveiled today as part of a Department of Health consultation to tackle alcohol misuse.

If agreed, the government would create extra licensing conditions or a compulsory code, which if breached would see a licensee being prosecuted or facing a review of their licence.

Other options include a more targeted approach in which councils enforce restrictions on problem premises that run promotions on alcohol. The final option is a revised voluntary code.

Restrictions on measures, including making sure drinks are offered in small as well as large glasses could also be introduced. Happy hours and "irresponsible promotions" could also be outlawed.

Big city centre bars and clubs - deemed "high-risk" - could also face a ban on glass.

And off-licences could be forced to sell alcohol only from a defined area within the store.

The proposals come off the back of three independent reviews, suggesting the industry is not following its voluntary agreements.

The first part of the eagerly-awaited Sheffield University review found cheap alcohol was fuelling increased drinking, particularly among young people and at-risk drinkers.

The KPMG review looking at industry standards on promotions and underage sales in the on and off-trade, revealed yesterday, found voluntary agreements were not being "consistently adopted".

And a review of alcohol labelling found only three per cent of alcohol products followed the voluntary labelling scheme in full.

At a press briefing today Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said it was "disappointing" because "some licensees are behaving in the way they should".

She also ruled out any chance of repealing the Licensing Act.

Asked whether the idea of a minimum price would be considered, she said the government would "look carefully" once the result of the second part of the Sheffield University review is published in September.

Home Office minister Tony McNulty said: "At best the standards are being applied in a fragmented way, at worst in many places alcohol is being sold and marketed irresponsibly."

But Mark Hastings, director of communications at the British Beer & Pub Association, hit out at the threat of new regulation. "Legislation is a sledgehammer that will not crack the nut," he said.

"There also needs to be the right balance between individual and corporate responsibility. We expect to be held to account for those things we can control, but companies cannot and should not be held to account for individual choices and behaviours that are beyond their ability to control."

"The inevitable impact of such measures is to force up costs and prices and push more pubs towards penury.

"This seems to be a classic example of the Government's tendency towards announcing new laws, rather than enforcing existing ones. There are plenty of laws and regulations to deal with irresponsible pubs and people."

The deadline for the public consultation is October 14, 2008. Responses can be submitted to: dh-consultation-coordinator@dh.gsi.gov.uk