8 September 2010
By Emily Ryans
CAMRA has today issued a response to the Home Office's review on
"Rebalancing the Licensing Act", calling for a targeted, nuanced approach
to tackling alcohol-related harm, which supports well-run community pubs
and not-for-profit members' clubs.
After just a six week consultation process, the new Coalition Government is
proposing reforms which are every bit as radical as the 2003 Licensing Act.
The Consultation contains a number of measures which would be beneficial to
community pubs, such as allowing greater community involvement in licensing
decisions, banning the sale of alcohol at below cost price and repealing
the failed Alcohol Disorder Zones. However, the review also considers
measures which could cause significant harm to pubs, not for profit
members' clubs and pub customers. Among the potentially damaging measures
are:
Allowing local authorities to determine a uniform closing time for
licensed premises throughout the local authority area, which could
potentially see a return to 11pm or even 10pm closing times.
Introducing a late night levy on licensed premises
Further increasing licence fees so they are based on full cost
recovery, putting more pressure on pubs
Restricting the ability of magistrates' courts to hear appeals on
licensing decisions, leaving appeals on bad licensing decisions in the
hands of licensing authorities which will have an incentive to justify
their original decisions.
CAMRA has highlighted the dangers and risks of unintended consequences in
this approach. We have called for the Government to ensure their measures
reflect the role of cheap alcohol in the off-trade, while focussing not
just on punishing premises where irresponsible drinking takes place, but on
encouraging and rewarding well-run pubs.
We expect the outcomes of this review to be in the Police Reform and Social
Responsibility Bill due to be debated in Parliament later this year.
You can also read
CAMRA's full consultation response.