DRINKS INDUSTRY FAILING TO KEEP ITS HOUSE IN ORDER

Alcohol Concern Press Release

The long standing agreement between the Government and alcohol trade associations - whereby licensees conform to set standards of sales practices through largely voluntary means - is failing to safeguard the public, according to a new report published today by Alcohol Concern.

Unequal partners: A report into the limitations of the alcohol regulatory regime provides a detailed analysis of official data and recent primary research into the way alcohol is sold in England. It criticises ?the multi-layered web of laws, voluntary codes and guidelines? that now surround licensed practice for being unclear and unable to deliver the transparency and accountability that is characteristic of effective regulation.

Specifically, the paper says of the voluntary codes governing retailers? conduct that ?licensees ignore the principles set out in the codes as it suits them because there are no meaningful sanctions for those who are found to be in breach?. It finds also that in many cases local authorities are unable to get to grips with problem premises due to a funding shortfall of £200 million arising from the new capped licensing fees brought about by the Act.

Among the comprehensive study?s main findings are:

That although successive Home Office-led test purchasing schemes have revealed the existence of a hard core minority of 10-15% licensed premises continuing to make illegal sales to the under-aged, only 0.5% of licensed premises were called up for a review under the powers granted by the Licensing Act 2003.

43% of managed pubs have no disciplinary procedures in place for staff found to be breaking under-aged sales laws, despite clear recommendations from the leading trade associations for members to adopt them.

In 3 out of the 6 bars that Alcohol Concern staff investigated in Nottingham city centre alone, happy hour deals that encouraged very heavy drinking were being promoted, despite repeated claims from the industry that such deals have been ?banned?.


Commenting on the report today, Don Shenker, Chief Executive of Alcohol Concern said:

?The Drinks Industry?s claim to champion responsible retailing is badly let down by the significant number of premises who persistently sell alcohol at cut prices, refuse to train their staff and allow under-age young people to buy alcohol. Self-regulation has clearly failed and we desperately need mandatory codes and an industry watchdog to stamp out the poor practice and the complacency that is characteristic of many of these venues. Only these measures can safeguard the public and cut down the alcohol-related violence that makes life a misery for so many.?

Commenting on the report today, Prof Ian Gilmore, President of the Royal College of Physicians and Chair of the Alcohol Heath Alliance said:

?Despite the known harm caused by alcohol, bars and clubs continue to use ways of selling alcohol that even their own industry recognises as bad practice. This report shows that the time has come for the Government to step in to effectively regulate an industry whose own efforts to tackle irresponsible alcohol sales have failed. Too many bars and clubs continue to put profit before their customers? health.?

A copy of the report, Unequal partners: A report into the limitations of the alcohol regulatory regime is available through this link: http://www.alcoholconcern.org.uk/servlets/doc/1361 [Adobe 344KB]

ENDS

For more information please contact Frank Soodeen at the Alcohol Concern Press Office on 0207 264 0514 or 07866063013 outside of working hours, or email franks@alcoholconcern.org.uk

Date: 21 July 2008