Ditch alcohol code, says McMullens

McMullens Brewery boss Peter Furness-Smith has given an impassioned plea to the Government to drop plans for its controversial mandatory alcohol retailing code.

Furness-Smith has written a strongly-worded letter to Home Secretary Alan Johnson in which the brewery chief urges him to abandon the plan to "introduce yet more ineffective and costly legislation". The letter has also been sent to 15 MPs in and near its Hertford heartland.

The consultation is worded in a way that It's "clear that your civil servants have no intention of consulting but are just gong through the motions", he said, and the lack of enthusiasm for it in the national tour is "a compelling reason to think again".

Pointing to the fact the "vast majority" of premises are well-managed, Furness-Smith said the "imposition of yet more cost of pub businesses in the current economic climate.. demonstrates irresponsible government".

He adds: "I know you are in the business of making headlines, but surely you understand that irresponsible operators can be dealt with under current laws?"

Furness-Smith said "all sane operators do not condone, under any circumstances, the irresponsible consumption of alcohol" and the code "will do nothing to tackle binge drinking or crime and disorder".

"The only outcome will be an increase in bureaucracy and therefore cost for an industry that is already burdened with taxes amounting to many times the level of any profits."

Action on troublemakers​

He also called for action against troublemakers, and more support for licensees.

He said three employees who've been "let down" by the law enforcement system are taking private prosecutions to achieve "some justice".

"I happen to think it is unacceptable that the teams in our pubs have to resort to taking their own legal action, but this is a price we are prepared to pay to support thoroughly decent, hard-working people who, like the police, day in day out, have to deal with a very small minority of the population who behave in a socially-unacceptable way."

He added: "I implore you not to make their lives any more difficult by introducing yet more bureaucracy, ineffective and costly legislation, but use your considerable power and influence to genuinely support the 500,000 or so individuals working in our industry who deserve better from our politicians."

The consultation on the mandatory code closes on 5 August.