Government proposes new alcohol sale restrictions

Wed 20 Jan 2010

Alcohol vendors in Britain could soon be required to sign up to a mandatory code of conduct.

The Home Office proposals will stop bars and pubs from carrying out "irresponsible" promotions, such as "all you can drink for £10" offers and allowing women to have free drinks.

Licensed retailers will also be required to check under-18s for ID and ensure customers have access to free tap water.

In addition, vendors will have to give customers the option of buying smaller measures of beers, wines and spirits.

Home secretary Alan Johnson said the code has been drawn up after extensive consultation with both the public and the alcohol industry.

He acknowledged that while the vast majority of retailers are responsible, a minority continue to run irresponsible drinks promotions.

Mr Johnson said this fuels the excessive drinking that leads to alcohol-related crime and disorder, which in turn costs the UK billions of pounds every year.

This comes after prime minister Gordon Brown said the government has no plans to introduce a minimum price for alcohol, despite suggestions to the contrary from health secretary Andy Burnham.

Robert Botkai, a partner at Winckworth Sherwood, commented: "This represents some change from the proposals put out for consultation last year.

"Yet more potential criminal liability for those working in the licensed trade.

"However, the announcement suggests that the government is focusing on the on trade for now.

"Just out of interest, has anyone seen a dentist's chair recently? Has anyone been refused tap water on licensed premises? Or is there an election coming up?

"Further information is in our Briefing published on our web site on 19 January."