Police target pubs over Challenge 21 contracts

Police have been accused of targeting pubs that have failed to sign a controversial contract forcing them to run a Challenge 21 scheme - even though the initiative is voluntary.

Every licensed premise in the London borough of Bexley was sent a letter in May asking them to sign an Acceptable Behaviour Contract covering the "responsible retailing of alcohol".

It means pubs would be legally tied to run the Challenge 21 initiative, which encourages staff to ask for ID from anyone who appears under 21.

The British Beer & Pub Association urged its members to ignore the letter, arguing it was not in the spirit of the Licensing Act and goes beyond what the law requires.

Bexley Council confirmed that police were visiting venues that had not signed the contracts. So far 159 out of 427 licensed premises have signed it.

But some licensees remain unimpressed by the initiative. Kevin Bell, licensee of the Albany Arms, has refused to sign the contract.

"It's an insult to my intelligence," he said. "We get on well with the police and there's no need for them to have another bit of paper when there's already the Licensing Act."

Martin Rawlings, director of pub & leisure at the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), who met with Bexley Council last month to discuss the scheme, hit out at the police's approach.

"It's unnecessary. If the contract is voluntary then it means it has no legal effect. People should have a choice if they want to sign it."

Rawlings also pointed out that the police's Challenge 21 poster failed to say that it was illegal for under-18s to attempt to buy alcohol, as it does on the BBPA's version.