BII welcomes the announcement in today’s Queen’s Speech
14-Nov-2002
NEWS RELEASE
BII welcomes the announcement in today’s Queen’s Speech that licensing reform is to be taken forward during the next Parliamentary session.
The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has represented its members’ views at every stage of the lengthy consultation process on licensing and will continue to do so in the coming days and weeks while the detail of the bill is finalised.
While today’s announcement is a major step forward, there is still a long way to go before the new regime is up and running and the BII will be involved in putting licensees’ arguments to ministers on vital issues including cost, consistency, local authority powers and training.
As a members’ organisation representing some 15,000 licensees, the BII supports the relaxation of licensing laws to give publicans more freedom to serve alcohol in a safe environment at a time that suits their customers.
The BII firmly believes that encouraging staggered closing times will remove the so-called “flash-points” currently encountered by police at 11pm.
The new system should also encourage best practice, especially through training, and will help weed out the minority of poor operators who give the trade a bad name.
Through its national framework of qualifications and schemes like its social responsibilities initiative, the Institute will continue to encourage best practice and foster partnerships between police, local authorities and the pub trade to ensure the new regime works for all concerned.
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John McNamara, Chief Executive of the BII, said: “Today’s announcement is good news for our members provided checks and balances are put in place to protect licensees from excessive costs and ensure that the new system will benefit both consumers and businesses.
“It is essential that the Institute continues to give licensees a voice within Westminster while discussion progresses on the detail of the bill.
“We hope the outcome of these discussions will be a new regime that enables publicans to move at last into the 21st Century as the modern retailers they are.
“To those who seek to obstruct this reform I would point to examples throughout the rest of Europe and even closer to home on the Isle of Man, where relaxed licensing has led to a safer drinking environment and a more sensible drinking culture.”
| erica@bii.org | |
| Contact | To arrange an interview with John McNamara please contact: Caroline Nodder, Corporate Communications Manager on 01276 417 838 / 07855 841 216 |
