500k for 20 Best Bar None schemes
Twenty new Best Bar None (BBN) schemes are to be set up across the country funded by a £500,000 investment from four drinks companies — Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands, Diageo, Heineken and Molson Coors.
This support will also help to guarantee the future of the programme over the next three years. The drinks industry partners are working with the Government and other stakeholders to include their commitment to BBN as an additional pledge for the Government's public health responsibility deal.
It is also believed that this additional funding could help the NHS and UK police forces make further savings, along with boosting the night-time economy by generating an extra £3m in trade across the venues involved.
Lord Redesdale, chairman of the Best Bar None programme, said: "This partnership and funding will take BBN to the next level, ensuring a brighter future for the scheme. It will enable us to be bolder and more ambitious in scope and standards.
"The bottom line is that we will be able to develop our existing schemes and roll out BBN across more areas of England and Wales, particularly disadvantaged areas such as Barnsley, for example. This will enable us to make even greater progress in reducing the impact of alcohol-related crime and disorder."
BBN provides a framework for training on enforcing proof-of-age policies, along with building relationships between the licensed trade, police and local authorities.
The programme is supported by the Home Office and BII (British Institute of Innkeeping), as well as the drinks industry. There are currently more than 100 Best Bar None schemes in the UK, with around 3,600 venues taking part.
