Nine licensing authorities looking at proposals for minimum alcohol pricing

Nine licensing authorities are considering introducing proposals for minimum alcohol pricing, research by law firm Poppleston Allen has suggested.

Of these, five authorities told the firm that the issue would be considered when introducing their revised statement of licensing policy over the next year. Two authorities reported that they had implemented informal arrangements with some operators, but no enforcement procedures had yet been engaged.

Poppleston Allen claimed that many licensing officers had concerns “regarding the legality of setting minimum alcohol prices with the pending implementation of The Licensing Act 2003 (Mandatory Licensing Conditions) Order 2014 because they are reluctant to deviate from Government set limits”.

The survey also found in relation to the potential banning of high strength alcohol that:

• Ten authorities are considering proposals as part of the revision of their statement of licensing policy. They are Bedford, Canterbury, Eastbourne, Hackney, Haringey, Hounslow, Oxford, Southampton, Tameside and Wakefield.
• Five authorities – Camden, Chelmsford, Conwy, Islington and Wrexham – have confirmed interest in introducing a ‘Reduce the Strength Campaign’, following the introduction of the scheme in Ipswich.
• The authorities for Bath and North East Somerset, Camden, Ealing, Medway, Portsmouth, Swale and Welwyn Hatfield have prepared and imposed model conditions on some premises licences, restricting the sale of alcoholic products with an ABV of above 6.5%.
• Crawley, Derby, Hastings, Mid-Suffolk, Milton Keynes and Wolverhampton have all run voluntary schemes restricting the sale of high strength alcoholic beverages.

Poppleston Allen partner Graeme Cushion said: “Whilst only 10.9% of licensing authorities may be considering or implementing such alcohol regulation strategies, following the introduction of the Government’s Local Action Areas in early 2014, such voluntary schemes may be seen as a more popular approach to tackling issues related to the licensed trade.”