The Queen's Speech: How It Will Affect Pubs
25 May 2010
By Emily Ryans
This morning the Queen announced the Government's legislative programme for the next 18 months. Among the bills announced were two that will particularly affect beer drinkers and pub goers:
Decentralisation and Localism Bill - this Bill will seek to introduce powers for local communities to save local services (such as pubs) from closure.
Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill - this Bill will seek to combat alcohol-fuelled crime by:
- introducing a ban on below-cost selling of alcohol
- clamping down on the sale of alcohol to underage drinkers by doubling the maximum fine to retailers to £20,000
- amending the Licensing Act 2003 to give police stronger powers in revoking and granting licences to pubs
CAMRA welcomes the proposals on the
banning of below-cost alcohol and the proposed new powers for local communities to save their pubs, and will seek to ensure that in implementing these reforms the Government protects and supports well-run community pubs as part of the solution to alcohol misuse, and not part of the problem.