Leading MP slams mandatory alcohol code

A frontbench MP has warned the government that its new mandatory code on alcohol could damage the industry's good operators.

Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Brokenshire told the Parliamentary Policing and Crime Bill Committee that the government "risked shooting itself in the foot".

He said that while the policy could drive out bad businesses, industry professionals who are doing their best to comply with social responsibility standards could also be forced under by the added costs of these conditions.

The warning comes after recent government estimates predicted that the minimum cost of the conditions will be between £485 and £1,195 for every pub per year, regardless of whether outlets have a history of anti-social behaviour.

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) welcomed Mr Brokenshire's support.

ALMR chief executive Nick Bish said: "It's good to see the Conservative front-bench listening. As the leading pub and bar operators, our members are on the front line of dealing with compliance issues. They know that every pound spent dealing with the latest Whitehall diktats is a pound not re-invested in their businesses and their people.

"We need the government to listen in the same way. If it fails to do so, it risks severely compromising its own objectives. Our industry provides an environment that encourages responsible drinking and discourages anti-social behaviour. These latest proposals could end up tipping even the best operators over the edge. The resulting gap in the market will be filled by supermarkets, which means more drinking in unsupervised environments."