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Binge drinking controls planned Cheap drinks promotions face ban
(about 4 hours later)
Plans to tighten controls on alcohol sales, lap dancing clubs and the laws covering prostitution have been unveiled in the Queen's Speech. "All you can drink" promotions in pubs and bars would be banned under government plans in the Queen's Speech.
Pubs and bars may have to sign up to a compulsory code of conduct and "all you can drink" promotions may be banned. Anyone selling alcohol would also have to sign up to a compulsory code of conduct, after a review found a voluntary code had not worked.
Lap dance clubs may be reclassified as "sex encounter" venues under licensing laws, making it easier to oppose them. Bars would have to offer small wine glasses and "multi-pack" supermarket discounts on alcohol would end.
And it could become a crime to pay for sex with prostitutions who are controlled by pimps. The policing and crime bill would also tighten laws on lap dancing clubs, prostitution and sex offenders.
The policing and crime bill aims to prevent "the misuse of alcohol, including the sale of alcohol" - more details are due to be announced later.
It is widely expected to include a ban on drinks promotions, such as those allowing women free drinks, or "£10 all you can drink" deals.
There are also expected to be bigger fines for people caught drinking in public places where alcohol is banned and new police powers to seize drinks from under-18s.
The bill largely applies to England and Wales, although parts will extend to Scotland and Northern Ireland.The bill largely applies to England and Wales, although parts will extend to Scotland and Northern Ireland.
It aims to "protect vulnerable members of our society, including women and children" as well as stopping crime "taking root in our communities" and increasing police accountability. 'Irresponsible practices'
The government has been consulting on whether licensing laws need tightening for lap-dancing clubs, which are currently in the same category as pubs and cafes - something councils say makes it difficult to oppose their opening. The government has been consulting on whether alcohol retailers - including private members' clubs - should have to sign up to a mandatory code of conduct.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has already said they need to be regulated "much more strongly" and she believes they are much more like "sex encounter establishments". It also asked researchers at Sheffield University to report on the effects of drinks promotions and pricing on drinking.
She has also previously announced plans to make it a crime in England and Wales to pay for sex with women who have been trafficked. I don't want to stop the vast majority of people who enjoy alcohol and drink responsibly from doing so Jacqui SmithHome Secretary
That report found that "many retailers are not abiding by their own voluntary standards for responsible selling and marketing of alcohol".
The bill will include plans for a mandatory code to target "the most irresponsible retail practices".
Among moves that will be consulted on are a ban on "all you can drink for £10" and "women drink for free"-style offers, supermarket deals when people "buy very large amounts" of alcohol and that drinks should detail how many units of alcohol they contain.
Alcohol disorder
The government says £3m will be made available to deal with drink-related problems in 190 areas and £1.5m to some areas to deal with underage sales and confiscating alcohol from underage drinkers.
It also plans to increase the maximum fine issued for being caught drinking in controlled areas from £500 to £2,500 and bring in a new offence of "persistently possessing alcohol in a public place" which would apply to under 18s.
And the current "three strikes" within three months rule for shopkeepers caught selling alcohol to underage drinkers would be changed to two strikes.
Targeting multi-packs is perverse. These are precisely the way families buy alcohol to take home Stephen RobertsonBritish Retail Consortium
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she did not want to stop "the vast majority of people who enjoy alcohol and drink responsibly from doing so".
But she said: "We all face a cost from alcohol-related disorder and I have a duty to crack down on irresponsible promotions that can fuel excessive drinking and lead people into crime and disorder.
"That's why I will impose new standards on the alcohol industry that everyone will have to meet with tough penalties if they break the rules."
Health Secretary Alan Johnson said he would not rule out taking action on "very cheap alcohol", like that sold below cost price but said more work was needed to make sure it was "fair".
British Retail Consortium boss Stephen Robertson warned that banning discounts on multi-packs would hit low-income families.
He said: "Targeting multi-packs is perverse. These are precisely the way families buy alcohol to take home. They are not bought by young people on a night out."
But Alcohol Concern said any compulsory code of conduct had to tackle cheap alcohol. Its chief executive Don Shenker said: "The University of Sheffield report now provides overwhelming and incontrovertible evidence that cheap alcohol is the single biggest driver of alcohol harms.
"We can't therefore afford any further delay in ending irresponsible alcohol pricing right across the board."
In other proposals in the bill, lap dance clubs may be reclassified as "sex encounter" venues under licensing laws, making it easier for local councils to oppose them.
And it could become a crime to pay for sex with prostitutions who are controlled by pimps.
The bill aims to "protect vulnerable members of our society, including women and children" as well as stopping crime "taking root in our communities" and increasing police accountability.
The government has been consulting on whether licensing laws need tightening for lap-dancing clubs, which are currently in the same licensing category as pubs and cafes.
The home secretary has also previously announced plans to make it a crime in England and Wales to pay for sex with women who have been trafficked.
Men who knowingly pay could be charged with rape and kerb crawlers could face prosecution for a first offence.Men who knowingly pay could be charged with rape and kerb crawlers could face prosecution for a first offence.
Among other measures in the bill are allowing people to elect representatives to police authorities, making it easier to seize criminal assets to tackle organised crime and "strengthening arrangements around sex offender prevention orders and foreign travel orders".Among other measures in the bill are allowing people to elect representatives to police authorities, making it easier to seize criminal assets to tackle organised crime and "strengthening arrangements around sex offender prevention orders and foreign travel orders".