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All-you-can-drink offers face ban | All-you-can-drink offers face ban |
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"All-you-can-drink" promotions could be banned and compulsory identity checks introduced under government proposals to crack down on binge drinking. | "All-you-can-drink" promotions could be banned and compulsory identity checks introduced under government proposals to crack down on binge drinking. |
If the plans for a mandatory code for England and Wales are approved, from April bars will also not be able to hold speed-drinking competitions. | If the plans for a mandatory code for England and Wales are approved, from April bars will also not be able to hold speed-drinking competitions. |
Retailers or publicans in breach of the code could be fined or jailed. | Retailers or publicans in breach of the code could be fined or jailed. |
Home Secretary Alan Johnson said there was a "duty to act". The Tories will announce their own proposals later. | |
These are expected to include a ban on supermarkets selling drink below cost price and a tougher licensing regime. | |
'Duty to act' | 'Duty to act' |
It is estimated alcohol abuse in England and Wales kills 40,000 people and costs the economy £55bn every year. | It is estimated alcohol abuse in England and Wales kills 40,000 people and costs the economy £55bn every year. |
CASE STUDY Barbara Vowles, manager of Chambers, Darlington We have a normal pub and a nightclub. We did have a 69p drink promotion on Thursday nights but we have put it up to £1 for some bottles of beer, vodka and mixer. | |
I did it to make a stand, to highlight the issue. Other places in Darlington were doing it and we had to fight for customers. | I did it to make a stand, to highlight the issue. Other places in Darlington were doing it and we had to fight for customers. |
I have been in the pub trade for 32 years and it is getting harder. We are competing with the supermarkets - most of us buy our alcohol from the supermarkets so we are still making money despite the cheap prices. | I have been in the pub trade for 32 years and it is getting harder. We are competing with the supermarkets - most of us buy our alcohol from the supermarkets so we are still making money despite the cheap prices. |
Pubs are closing down all the time - the recession and the smoking ban have not helped. | Pubs are closing down all the time - the recession and the smoking ban have not helped. |
I would be in favour of a minimum price for alcohol as it would create a level playing field and people would then come into a pub for the atmosphere or music, not just because it sold the cheapest booze. class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=7422">Read your comments | |
The Home Office says drink-related crime and disorder costs the UK an estimated £8bn to £13bn a year. | |
If the government's proposals receive parliamentary approval, they will form a new mandatory code for retailers. | |
This would include: | |
• Bar staff and retailers being legally required to demand proof of age of anyone who looks under 18 - to be introduced from September | |
• Banning "irresponsible" promotions such as all-you-can-drink offers, women-drink-free deals and speed-drinking contests | |
• Banning the dentist's chair game, which involves pouring a steady stream of drink down a customer's throat | • Banning the dentist's chair game, which involves pouring a steady stream of drink down a customer's throat |
• Free tap water for customers | • Free tap water for customers |
• Pubs having to make small measures of beers, wines and spirits available to customers. To be introduced from September | |
• Shop owners and publicans who breach the code facing a six-month jail term or a £20,000 fine | |
Mr Johnson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he had not ruled out the possibility of using pricing measures to make alcohol less easily available. | |
He said: "We haven't ruled out an element of pricing here but I think we have to be very careful. | |
"We don't want to ensure that people... on good incomes can just carry on as normal but responsible drinkers on low incomes are hit." | |
But Mr Johnson said a minority of alcohol retailers ran irresponsible promotions which "fuel the excessive drinking that leads to alcohol-related crime and disorder". | |
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | |
"These practices have a real impact on society, not to mention the lives of those who just want to enjoy a good night out," he said. | "These practices have a real impact on society, not to mention the lives of those who just want to enjoy a good night out," he said. |
"The government and the industry have a duty to act - this mandatory code will allow us to take action against an issue which affects us all." | "The government and the industry have a duty to act - this mandatory code will allow us to take action against an issue which affects us all." |
Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling told the BBC the Conservatives wanted to "call time" on the 24-hour drinking culture which had built up under Labour, but ruled out minimum pricing. | |
"The problem with minimum pricing is that it affects people who are in no way involved in anti-social behaviour," he said. | |
"It puts up the price of a bottle of sherry, a bottle of wine, so responsible drinkers will end up paying more." | |
Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary Norman Lamb said last week that the "best way to prevent alcohol misuse is to put an end to alcohol being sold at pocket-money prices". | |
In Scotland, the government is pushing for a minimum price for alcohol to tackle drink-related problems. | In Scotland, the government is pushing for a minimum price for alcohol to tackle drink-related problems. |
Laws requiring young people to prove their age were introduced in the country last year. | |
'Just tinkering' | 'Just tinkering' |
The British Beer and Pub Association said it had been asking for legislation to crack down on irresponsible promotions in both pubs and supermarkets. | |
But spokesman Mark Hastings told the BBC: "What with 70% of all alcohol sold through supermarkets and widespread concern about their promotional prices, the measures announced by the Home Office seem lopsided and unbalanced." | |
The British Medical Association said it supported tougher rules on promotions, adding: "Alcohol misuse leads to serious ill-health, premature death and is linked to violence and anti-social behaviour. It also costs the NHS millions of pounds every year." | |
Don Shenker, chief executive of campaign group Alcohol Concern, told the BBC the proposals were "long overdue" but "did not go far enough". | Don Shenker, chief executive of campaign group Alcohol Concern, told the BBC the proposals were "long overdue" but "did not go far enough". |
People could still "pre-load" by getting alcohol from supermarkets before heading to the pub, and the proposals would not stop pubs and clubs selling a pint of lager for under £1. | People could still "pre-load" by getting alcohol from supermarkets before heading to the pub, and the proposals would not stop pubs and clubs selling a pint of lager for under £1. |
Mr Shenker said: "It is just tinkering with the price issue rather than decisive action. We need a minimum price per unit of alcohol which will affect pubs, clubs, off-licences and supermarkets." | |
Earlier this month, the Commons health select committee called for minimum pricing, a rise in duty on spirits and white cider and stricter regulation of advertising. | Earlier this month, the Commons health select committee called for minimum pricing, a rise in duty on spirits and white cider and stricter regulation of advertising. |
It estimated a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol would prevent 3,000 deaths a year. | |