ALMR slams Labour's drink proposals

Published: 15 October, 2008

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has added its voice to the debate over a mandatory code of practice for the drinks trade, by branding the proposals "ridiculous" and "reckless". TextThe Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has added its voice to the debate over a mandatory code of practice for the drinks trade, by branding the proposals "ridiculous" and "reckless".

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has added its voice to the debate over a mandatory code of practice for the drinks trade, by branding the proposals "ridiculous" and "reckless".

ALMR chief executive, Nick Bish, is calling on the Labour Government to spend more time and effort on the issues which are affecting the pub industry.

Under the proposed code, first leaked exclusively to Harpers last week, tough new legislation will place restrictions on the packaging, promotion and sale of alcohol. The code also includes a raft of mandatory and targeted conditions on what should be included on the labels of alcoholic drinks.

Bish said: "It seems now we are to have Whitehall diktat on pub layouts and cocktail names along with bar staff forced to snoop round every corner, ensuring that no one can occasionally have a bit of fun down at the pub.

"There is even the assumption that people attend wine tastings in order to binge drink and cause trouble. To say that these latest proposals are ridiculous is an understatement; worse is their reckless misunderstanding of the costs to small businesses and to individual jobs."

Yesterday the WSTA also publicly slammed the poroposals, saying that greater enforcement of current laws, rather than the introduction of new ones, is needed.

The ALMR recently published its own its manifesto, which sets out what it believes the government could be doing to support pubs as they weather the current economic storm. The manifesto calls on the government to cancel the alcohol duty escalator, cut red tape, act on below-cost supermarket sales, reintroduce empty property relief and extend the stamp duty holiday to pubs.

Harpers is inviting you to join the Alcohol Debate by writing an open letter to your MP. Click here for more details.