All you can drink nights to end

The government are planning to introduce laws banning all you can drink promotions as well as compulsory id checks under proposals designed to reduce alcohol abuse in the UK.

The government plans to also ban ‘speed-drinking’ challenges in England & Wales which reportedly take place at some venues. Retailers or publicans that fal to comply could be fined or jailed, with Home Secretary Alan Johnson stated as saying that there was a “duty to act”. The Conservatives have also said that they will give councils more powers to tackle problematic venues. The 3 main political parties have released their proposals which consist of:

Labour 

Bar staff and retailers will be required to demand proof of age of anyone who appears under the age of 18
There will be a ban on “irresponsible” promotions such as all-you-can-drink offers and speed-drinking contests and ensure free tap water is available
Pubs will have to make small measures of beers, wines and spirits available.

Conservatives

They will give councils the power to charge levy on premises causing problems late at night, including off-licences open after 10.30pm and pubs open after midnight
There will be a duty increase on problem drinks including some very strong beers or alcopops
They will permanently shut down pubs which repeatedly break the rules

Liberal Democrats

They intend to stop “irresponsible” promotions by setting a minimum price for alcohol
They will introduce a “one-strike-and-you’re-out” policy, resulting in shops being fined and losing their licence the first time they are caught selling alcohol to children.

Home Secetary Alan Johnson told the Today Programme on BBC Radio 4 that the use of pricing measures had not been ruled out by the government but that this would not be a ‘magic bullet’ to the problem. He was quoted as saying “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.” he continued in relation to the irresponsible promotions that “these practices have a real impact on society, not to mention the lives of those who just want to enjoy a good night out.”

Shadow Home Secetary Chris Grayling expressed ‘concern’ at the strength of some of the drinks on the market and that teh Conservatives would place a higher duty on these drinks however some boutique, niche brands would be exempt. Mr Grayling objected to price tampering as the cure as he said “Tte problem with minimum pricing is that it affects people who are in no way involved in anti-social behaviour. It puts up the price of a bottle of sherry, a bottle of wine, so responsible drinkers will end up paying more”

Liberal Democrat Chris Huhne, the home affairs spokesman took the opportunity to critcise Labours proposals saying “Booze Britain is ruining lives and costing the country billions, but Labour has not only failed to tackle alcohol misuse, it has allowed an epidemic of drink-fuelled crime and illness to take hold. Now the government is ignoring its own expensive advice and experts, who say the best way to reduce alcohol misuse is to stop booze being sold at pocket money prices.”

Scotland has already introduced laws requirng proof of age and attempts are being made at introducing a minimum price for drinks.

However the political proposals have come under criticism with The British Beer and Pub Association spokesman Mark Hastings telling the BBC that “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 Assocation of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) have welcomed the moves, the groups Commander Simon O’Brien stated that a mandatory code of practice will help people moderate their intake but that “the reality is that enforcement is only one avenue to bring about change in attitudes and behaviour.” Health groups such as Alcohol Concern have also welcomed the measures, but Don Shenker told the BBC that these proposals wouldn’t prevent people pre-loading wth alcohol from supermarkets and venues selling pints for under a pound. He was quoted as saying “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”

A Commons health select group estimated that 3,000 deaths a year could be prevened by creating a 50p minimum price per unit of alcohol.

Although, all parties have forwarded ways they see of tackling the issue over excessive drinking, there is no mention of the issue of personal responsibility i.e. making the individual responsible for their own drinking and the consequences of any anti-social behaviour resulting from their drinking. Price fixing wont deter drinkers who have access to cheap alcohol from supermarkets or have consistently avoided any real punishment for their behaviour and perhaps it is this that the politicians should be looking at; making the individual pay for their behaviour with theur own time and/or money and thus responsible for it.

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