The chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers has criticised the government for bailing out the car industry at the same time as condemning pubs to an extra £300m in costs.
Speaking after Lord Mandelson promised £2bn to car manufacturers, Nick Bish, the chief executive of the ALMR, said that the decision “beggars belief”.
He was supported by Rob Hayward, the chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, who said that jobs losses as a result of a new code and duty increases was "offensive".
The ALMR said Home Office statistics showed that a new alcohol code of retail practice would cost each premises £1195.
The leading trading organisation also pointed out that the pub industry employs 580,000 people, in comparison with the car industry that employs
Bish added: “The costs of the new alcohol code of practice could be the final nail in the coffin for many of the UK’s treasured pubs and bars. With over half a million people relying on the industry as a regular source of income, this will be a tough blow. The Government should be seeking to reassure people as they face the reality of a recession. Now is not the time to be risking jobs by pushing any industry to the brink of collapse with unnecessary and ill thought through legislative proposals.
“We are pushing for the government to get its act together and show Britain’s pubs and bars a bit of support. The ALMR is urging parliamentarians and ministers alike to take a reality check and make sure that any mandatory conditions are both targeted and proportionate. We want publicans not only to survive this economic storm, but come out the other side able to build their businesses and thrive once again.”
Bish was not the only top industry figure to criticise the proposed mandatory code yesterday.
Rob Hayward, the chief executive at the British Beer and Pub Association, told MPs on the House of Commons Policing and Crime Bill Committee: “ It has been widely reported that 39 pubs are closing every week. Now that is not just 39 pubs but 39 families without homes and the loss of associated jobs such as accountants and stock-takers."
Hayward said the alcohol duty escalator alone could lead to the loss of 59,000 jobs over the next five years in the pub and brewing sector.
"To effectively say that is a price worth paying and to actually write it on a document when we are touching 2m people having lost their jobs is actually quite offensive."
