Oldham Council's plans to review the licences of all of its town centre pubs, bars and nightclubs could fall foul of the law, a lawyer has warned.
Speaking at the British Beer & Pub Association's spring key issues forum in Manchester yesterday, Hamish Lawson, of law firm Cobbetts, questioned the validity of a blanket review.
"My invited view is that it is unlawful," he said.
"A review process can only be brought against individual premises."
Early this month Oldham Council unveiled controversial plans to review the licences at 22 venues in a bid to stem late-night trouble.
It has also put forward a series of draconian measures including a post office'- style queuing system at each bar when running drinks promotions and banning people from drinking while queuing.
People will only be allowed to only take up to two drinks from the bar on each visit and venues will have to provide at least seven days notice of the promotion to the licensing authority and police.
But Mr Lawson said that under the Licensing Act, trouble in a town centre could not provide the basis for the enforcement of blanket conditions.
"It departs from the principles of the Licensing Act that states that every premises should be treated on its own merits," he added.
Lee Le Clercq, BBPA regional secretary for the North of England, said the organisation supported the council's clampdown on irresponsible drinks promotions but was concerned about its approach.
He added the council needed to tackle the problem of binge drinking with individual premises "rather than hitting everybody".
The council has already stripped Brownz Bar, a town centre venue, of its licence after a mass brawl. The reviews of all premises are expected to start in June.