A leading trade body has cautioned against welcoming reports that the government is to shelve plans for a mandatory code for alcohol - warning that it could still be implemented at a later date.
The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) pointed out that the Bill is still due to be debated in the House of Lords in mid-October and if it goes through it could still give the Secretary of State the power to enact the code at a future date.
Kate Nicholls, head of communications for the ALMR said: "Unless the clause is removed by the House of Lords when it is debated on 13 October, I wouldn't put any weight against the reports this morning that Mandelson has shelved the code.
"I would hate to have something left in the bill which at a future date the Secretary of State could still enact. We therefore need to redouble our efforts to get it removed.
"These are part of measures being implemented in the run up to the General Election and I don't see the shelving of the law as anything specific to the industry."
The comments followed reports in The Times this morning that Lord Mandelson was planning to shelve the mandatory code on alcohol as part of a raft of regulations to be delayed due to the recession.
Paul Smith, the executive director of NOCTIS, said that while there was a "strong possibility" that the code would be shelved, it was "not a done deal".
Smith said that there was huge opposition to the code amongst the police and local councils, as well as other government departments outside the Home Office and Department of Health.
"I don't know if it's an entirely done deal. What's pretty clear is the anti-faction is growing by the day and that's a pretty clear indication it's not going through. But we thought that about alcohol disorder zones - they came in despite massive opposition," said Smith.
"I would say there's a very strong possibility the mandatory code won't come in. A lot comes down to fact we and others have put a lot of effort making sure it doesn't come in.
"I would be over-joyed to see it [scrapped] but I'm not sure we are there yet."
Meanwhile, Mark Hastings, British Beer and Pub Association director of communications, said: "We are very pleased the government has listened and responded to our compelling arguments on this unnecessary and disproportionate legislation - and recognised the damage that it would do to Britain's pubs.
"This is in no small measure due to the active and intensive lobbying we have pursued - and particular thanks are due to the thousands of people who responded to the government through our Axe the Beer Tax/Save the Pub website, which I am sure made a real difference to the campaign.
"While the code is now shelved, we have made clear to government we would continue to support specific targeted action on irresponsible promotions. This could still be achieved, through a straightforward measure that doesn't drown Britain's pubs in costly red tape."
