BHA accuses Government of backtracking over hotel bars EMRO exemption

The trade body has written a letter to Home Office minister Jeremy Browne, co-signed by the British Beer & Pub Association, Business in Sport and Leisure and the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, expressing concerns.

An EMRO will restrict the sale of alcohol in a certain area for any period of time between the hours of midnight and 6am. The Government had been examining exemptions to the measure.

Martin Couchman, BHA’s deputy chief executive, said: “During the original discussions [on EMROs and the late-night levy] it was agreed that resident hotel guests would be allowed to be served alcohol after midnight anywhere on the hotel’s premises, including the hotel’s bars.

“However, the final draft of the regulations allows hotels to serve alcohol only via a mini-bar or room service.

“Guests who want to socialise will either have to retreat to one of their bedrooms to do so, with the result of noise and disturbance to other guests, or the law will create a farcical situation in which guests will go to their room to receive the alcohol and then head back to the bar to continue socialising.

“We have had many hours of discussion on the introduction of EMROs and the late night levy with Home Office officials and it is disappointing that issues that were discussed at our meetings have largely been ignored in the final draft regulations.”

He urged the minister to “clarify the regulations so that there is clear national framework that everybody can understand”.

The legislation for EMROs came into force on 31 October, with local councils likely to be able to implement one from next year.