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20/01/2010 ¦ National Association News

UK: BBPA responds to UK government’s Mandatory Code proposals

Commenting on government proposals for mandatory conditions on the sale of alcohol, BBPA Chief Executive Brigid Simmonds, said: “We have consistently supported legislation to crack down on irresponsible promotions in pubs and supermarkets.  However, with nearly 70 per cent of all alcohol now sold through supermarkets, the pub-centric measures announced today are lop-sided and unbalanced.

“Pubs are struggling and the country is in recession.  This is not the time for the Home Office to be burying business in yet more unnecessary red tape. All the powers needed to deal with problem premises already exist.  The trouble is poor enforcement of the current laws.  Just adding to that pile is unhelpful.

“As a population, we should be encouraging young people to drink in properly supervised premises like pubs. Pubs are at the heart of responsible retailing and are being demonised because this is easy, in terms of legislation.  What we need are targeted policies which deal with personal responsibility, aimed at the 10 per cent of the population who drink 40 per cent of all alcohol.”

Brigid Simmonds expressed specific concerns over plans to make Challenge 21, the highly successful and voluntary proof of age scheme, mandatory:

“Challenge 21 was devised and implemented by our industry two years ago and has been operated rigorously since then.  Every month, more than one million people are refused service in pubs, either because they have no ID or are underage.  Ninety per cent of 18-24 year olds say they are aware of the scheme, which clearly shows how widely it is used. 

“We might question whether the law should require you to have such a policy, as the fact is that the pub industry already operates such a policy and it has been hugely successful in tackling underage drinking in pubs. 

Ms Simmonds also says that laws that force pubs to stock particular glass sizes are not needed:

“Drink measures have always been driven by consumer choice.  We’ve always supported that choice, which is why we have successfully campaigned for the introduction of smaller measures for beer, in addition to the iconic pint.  We have no problem in offering a wider choice of measures, provided there is flexibility. Pubs should be able to offer other measures, without the compulsory purchase of hundreds of thousands of new glasses.”

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