Industry bodies call for ‘fairer’ alcohol rules

Seven of the UK’s largest hospitality industry associations have called on the government for a “fairer’” tax and regulatory system to deal with the sale of alcohol.

In a speech to the Westminster Food and Nutrition Forum, British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) chief executive Brigid Simmonds set out a need for a “level playing field” between the sector and retailers.

According to the BBPA, 70 per cent of alcohol is sold by supermarkets and is undermining efforts to tackle misuse and anti-social behaviour, while also threatening jobs across the hospitality industry.

The British Hospitality Association; the British Institute of Innkeeping; the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations; Business in Sport and Leisure (BISL); Noctis; and the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers have all joined forces with the BBPA.

Among the proposals submitted by the organisations is a review of the Licensing Act, banning the below-cost selling of alcohol and improved incentives for businesses to boost trading practices.

Simmonds said: “The government is right to be reviewing the rules and regulations surrounding the way we sell and drink alcohol and the benefits and costs to society and our communities.

“We need to rebalance our system to ensure everyone who sells alcohol is equally responsible and that greater emphasis is placed on the accountability of individuals for the choices they make about their drinking behaviours.”

Noctis chief executive Paul Smith added: “At Noctis, we welcome the opportunity to show the new coalition that, as an industry we can work collaboratively to come up with effective proposals to tackle the thorny issues which adversely affect our sector.”