This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7528858.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Responsible drinking code shelved | Responsible drinking code shelved |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A voluntary code banning irresponsible drinks promotions has been shelved because it may break competition laws, a pub industry representative has said. | A voluntary code banning irresponsible drinks promotions has been shelved because it may break competition laws, a pub industry representative has said. |
| The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) confirmed it had withdrawn the code pending further legal advice. | The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) confirmed it had withdrawn the code pending further legal advice. |
| A government memo had warned of a possible conflict between the voluntary code and European laws, it says. | A government memo had warned of a possible conflict between the voluntary code and European laws, it says. |
| However the Department for Business and Enterprise said it thought the code was unlikely to break competition rules. | However the Department for Business and Enterprise said it thought the code was unlikely to break competition rules. |
| 'Forced to comply' | 'Forced to comply' |
| A spokesman for the BBPA, which represents more than half of the UK's 58,000 pubs, said the voluntary code had banned any promotions that encouraged very fast or excessive drinking. | A spokesman for the BBPA, which represents more than half of the UK's 58,000 pubs, said the voluntary code had banned any promotions that encouraged very fast or excessive drinking. |
| He said these included two-for-one offers or promotions that allowed women to drink for free. | He said these included two-for-one offers or promotions that allowed women to drink for free. |
| He told the BBC: "The industry is not voluntarily dropping its promotions code. We have been forced to act to comply with the law. | He told the BBC: "The industry is not voluntarily dropping its promotions code. We have been forced to act to comply with the law. |
| It is a matter for the BBPA what advice it gives its members Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform | It is a matter for the BBPA what advice it gives its members Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform |
| "The government knows this is the position and has been kept informed at all stages. | "The government knows this is the position and has been kept informed at all stages. |
| "Pubs and pub companies have been and continue to take action on responsible promotions, but in doing so we have to act within the constraints of competition law." | "Pubs and pub companies have been and continue to take action on responsible promotions, but in doing so we have to act within the constraints of competition law." |
| But a spokesman for the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform said the government had not encouraged the BBPA to drop the code. | But a spokesman for the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform said the government had not encouraged the BBPA to drop the code. |
| He said: "We welcomed the code when it was first published and there is unlikely to be any reason why it would breach competition law. | He said: "We welcomed the code when it was first published and there is unlikely to be any reason why it would breach competition law. |
| "However, ultimately it is a matter for the BBPA what advice it gives its members. If it is concerned about the legality of its code, then it is right to seek further legal advice." | "However, ultimately it is a matter for the BBPA what advice it gives its members. If it is concerned about the legality of its code, then it is right to seek further legal advice." |
| The spokesman said the guidance that was published in April was targeted at government officials. | The spokesman said the guidance that was published in April was targeted at government officials. |
| Last week a government-commissioned study, drawn up by auditors KPMG, concluded that the industry's voluntary code was "not fit for purpose". | Last week a government-commissioned study, drawn up by auditors KPMG, concluded that the industry's voluntary code was "not fit for purpose". |
| The BBPA said that regardless of there being any official internal code of practice, its members would continue to support responsible drinks promotions. | The BBPA said that regardless of there being any official internal code of practice, its members would continue to support responsible drinks promotions. |
| It is now time for the government to take firm action against the trade and to legislate to ensure that the licensing trade always act responsible Chris Allison | It is now time for the government to take firm action against the trade and to legislate to ensure that the licensing trade always act responsible Chris Allison |
| Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner | Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner |
| But the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said the drinks industry still needed to do more to tackle problem drinking, and called on the government to "take firm action against the trade". | But the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said the drinks industry still needed to do more to tackle problem drinking, and called on the government to "take firm action against the trade". |
| Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison, said: "Sadly the trade repeatedly show that they cannot be relied upon to consistently act in a responsible way, a fact that was re-enforced in the KPMG report published by the government last week. | Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison, said: "Sadly the trade repeatedly show that they cannot be relied upon to consistently act in a responsible way, a fact that was re-enforced in the KPMG report published by the government last week. |
| "It is now time for the government to take firm action against the trade and to legislate to ensure that the licensing trade always act responsible." | "It is now time for the government to take firm action against the trade and to legislate to ensure that the licensing trade always act responsible." |
| Earlier, the BBPA released figures showing that beer sales had fallen sharply since 2007. | |
| According to the BBPA's UK Quarterly Beer Barometer, beer sales in pubs are down 10.6% compared with the same quarter last year. | |
| BBPA chief executive Rob Hayward said: "Beer sales in pubs are now at their lowest level since the Great Depression of the 1930s - down seven million pints a day from the height of the market in 1979." |