NEW MANDATORY CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ALCOHOL RETAILERS

The Government has recently announced a new code of conduct for alcohol retailers.

The changes and their dates of implementation are set out in the table below. They will apply to all licensed premises although many will in reality be unaffected by them. Of most concern to many people however is the fact that they fail to address what is seen by many as the main problem affecting the licensed trade. Supermarkets will be largely unaffected and will continue to be able to sell alcohol as a ‘loss leader’ at considerably lower prices than the rest of the trade. Not only does this directly affect the profitability of pubs in particular it is seen by many as a major contributor to the problem of binge drinking as it allows drinkers to ‘load up’ on cheap booze before going out.

Mandatory licensing condition	Coming into force
Banning promotions such as “all you can drink for £10” or “women drink free” deals.	6 April 2010
Banning “dentist’s chairs” where alcohol is poured directly into the mouths of customers.	6 April 2010
Ensuring free tap water is available for all customers.	6 April 2010
Making sure all sellers of alcohol have an age-verification policy in place.	1 October 2010
Ensuring small measures of alcoholic drinks are made available to customers.	1 October 2010

Penalties for breaching the code

Premises that breach any of the above conditions will risk a range of sanctions, including:

• Having additional conditions imposed on their licence.
• Losing their licence.
• A maximum £20,000 fine and/or six months imprisonment.

More information

If you require any more information on this or any other licensing matter please contact Bruce Faulkner on 01603 675609 or by email at bwf@rogers-norton.co.uk.