Press Release

BRC Comment On ADZ's/Violent Crime Reduction Bill

8 June 2005

Kevin Hawkins, BRC Director General, said:

"The BRC is committed to working with Government to promote sensible drinking and combat alcohol misuse, but it is crucial that the Government's strategy for dealing with alcohol fuelled anti-social behaviour does not penalise well-conducted premises and sensible drinkers for the excesses of the minority.

"An 'Alcohol Disorder Zone' implies the drawing of lines on maps within which all licensed premises would be liable for costs. Off-licensed shops and supermarkets in particular are not the cause of alcohol-fuelled disorder and also pay their business rates for a range of goods other than alcohol. These businesses should not be charged for the extra costs associated with such anti-social behaviour.

"Leaving aside the existing burden of taxation on the licensed trade, including the heavily- increased licensing fees, it is clear that without a centrally determined and rigorously detailed definition of how such costs are to be calculated, local authorities would just regard ADZ's as an extra source of revenue - which would, of course, be an incentive for them to designate these Zones.

"We welcome the general principle of Drinking Banning Orders as a way to help tackle persistent offenders. Retailers will continue promoting the Government's advice on sensible drinking at point of sale and product labelling and using 'PASS' - the proof of age standards scheme created by the BRC and endorsed by the Home Office, to tackle the problems with fake ID and create a nationally accepted proof of age scheme."

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