Tory plans to cut duty on beer and cider and focus on enforcing existing laws "could well be an antidote to the poison of excessive Government meddling behind the bars of Britain's pubs".
That's the message of support for the new Conservative campaign to save the pub from the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR).
The Tories said they would cut taxes on lower-alcohol drinks such as beer and raise taxes on "problem drinks like high-strength ciders and alcopops" and focus on enforcing existing laws.
"The Conservatives are right to focus on the enforcement of existing laws," said ALMR chief executive Nick Bish.
"The Government's habit of producing knee-jerk legislation has been awful for our industry. What the Tories must now do is match its words with action and galvanise opposition to the Government's plans for a mandatory alcohol code
"The great British pub is a fantastic institution that's at the centre of communities large and small, urban and rural. ALMR members work hard to help deliver great service and value to customers in towns and villages all around the UK, contributing around £85,000 each a year to the Treasury.
"But thanks to incessant Government meddling, pubs are threatened like never before. Successive duty hikes and mountains of red tape have left too many landlords tangled up in an inescapable mess, with over 300 new regulations introduced since 1997.
"To make matters worse, the cost of red tape now needlessly threatens jobs and businesses in a time of recession — the Home Office itself admits that the mandatory code conditions could cost pubs as much as £1200 a year in compliance costs.
"Councils, the police and the Government already have enough power to deal with the small minority of irresponsible drinkers who commit anti-social behaviour offences. The current plans for a mandatory code will do nothing but brand pubs as anti-social influence.
"There is no reason why the vast majority of drinkers who enjoy alcohol responsibly should be penalised by the ill thought through and irresponsible actions of a small minority of premises that are opportunistic and unprofessional.
"The issue of duty needs to be considered carefully because it is not just a toy to be tinkered with. Whilst any improvement from the status quo is good news, we must hear more detail about these Conservative plans — the proof of the pudding is in the eating."