The Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has said that it is time to put an end to irresponsible alcohol promotions.
Speaking at the Business in Sport and Leisure (BISL) conference held at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London today, Andy Burnham MP said he thought the 2003 Licensing Act had been a success, but he said the flexibility of the act had been abused – it was harder for him to advocate self-regulation the longer that deeply-discounted alcohol promotions were allowed to continue.
The MP said that there was a clear consensus that promotions that encouraged irresponsible drinking – such as happy hours and all-you-can-drink offers - had to be stopped.
He said: “The public debate has reached a point where it is time to call time on most irresponsible alcohol promotions.
“I think there is a consensus in the country about that. They are the kind of promotions that cause speed drinking, that doesn’t place any limit on the amount of alcohol people can drink.
“Unless the industry grips the issue seriously and eliminates these practices, it obviously makes it difficult to advocate self-regulation.”
Earlier in his address to business leaders from across the leisure industry, Burnham praised the 2003 Licensing Act, but said he wanted to change it to simplify matters when the risks were low – such as having a bar at a village fete or changing the layout of a pub.
Burnham added: “I believe that we can suit these aims without competing with our determination to tackle alcohol-related harm.
“It is important to recognise that the consumption of alcohol is falling, the number of children gaining access to alcohol under the age of 16 is reducing and the success of enforcement since the act came into force is getting better and better in terms of lawful sales, but I have to say this is not enough.
“That is why we have to be tough on anyone that abuses the new flexibility: apportioned and targeted, but tough.”
