Best Bar None Rallies Industry Support Against Mandatory Code For Alcohol Retailers

At this week's board meeting of responsible alcohol retailing scheme Best Bar None, Chairman Lord Rupert Redesdale shared his intention to table an amendment to the mandatory code of practice element of the Policing and Crime Bill. This he did on Wednesday 17th June.

(PRWeb UK/PRWEB ) June 19, 2009 -- At this week's board meeting of responsible alcohol retailing scheme Best Bar None, Chairman Lord Rupert Redesdale shared his intention to table an amendment to the mandatory code of practice element of the Policing and Crime Bill. This he did on Wednesday 17th June.

He also discussed with board members a letter that Best Bar None is sending to Home Secretary Alan Johnson MP expressing deep concern about the wide-spread damage to the licensed retail industry that will be caused by the suggested conditions. The letter explicitly asks him to scrap the proposals.

BBN board members supported this action and the key industry bodies and associations agreed to put their names to the letter. All 80 plus Best Bar None schemes have received a copy of the letter and we have asked them to send a hand-written version of it to their local MP copying in Alan Johnson. BII members are being asked to do the same.

This activity is the industry at its best; uniting against legislation that could have wide-reaching and disastrous consequences. I have tabled the amendment and we await a response and the outcome of the consultation into the mandatory code with great interest.

The hard-hitting letter states that 'The planned mandatory conditions for all licensed premises are for the most part blanket, indiscriminate and disproportionate. Existing legislation can deal with irresponsible on and off trade retailers.'

It goes on to say 'Collectively, Best Bar None, BII (British Institute of Innkeeping), the ALMR, the FLVA, Noctis and the BBPA - the trade bodies and associations which have given their support to this letter - represent circa 75% of the businesses operating in the licensed retail industry. …….. Our members provide employment for young people starting out in their careers, make a significant tax contribution and contribute around £80k per annum to their local communities and economy. The added burden of these mandatory conditions will close pubs and decimate a vital UK industry.'

All 15,000 members of BII are being sent copies of the letter to forward to their local MPs and the other associations have been approached to do the same. Lord Redesdale continued: "This activity is the industry at its best; uniting against legislation that could have wide-reaching and disastrous consequences. I have tabled the amendment and we await a response and the outcome of the consultation into the mandatory code with great interest."

For further information please contact:
Sarah Walker 01276 417874

Notes to editors

A copy of the letter sent to the Home Secretary is attached.

Full details of the Home Office alcohol consultation including the proposed code of practice can be found here http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/cons-2009-alcohol/

Best Bar None is a recognised award scheme supported by the Home Office and aimed at promoting responsible management and operation of alcohol licensed premises. Best Bar None is supported by BII, Home Office, Association of Multiple Licensed Retailers (ALMR), NOCTIS, BBPA, NUS Services, FLVA, Association of Town Centre Managers (ACTM), Scottish Business Crime Centre, Metropolitan Police, DCMS, National Pubwatch, LACORS and All Party Parliamentary Beer Group.

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