Memorandum by Alcohol Concern (EVN 07)
BACKGROUND
1. Alcohol Concern is the national voluntary
organisation working on alcohol misuse Our aims are to reduce
the harm caused by alcohol misuse to individuals, families and
communities and to improve services available to problem drinkers
and their families.
2. We submitted evidence to the original
ODPM Select Committee Enquiry into the Evening Economy, because
of the role played by alcohol in many of the negative consequences
of the late night economy, such as crime and anti-social behaviour.
3. Our evidence focused on a number of key
issues:
— The contribution of the UK drinking
culture to the problems associated with the evening economy.
— The need for a proactive approach
to be taken by Local Authorities in developing the Evening Economy.
— Ensuring that a range of premises
can flourish which caters for a wide range of clientele rather
than the predominance of stand up venues catering for a youth
market alone.
— Improving the capacity of public
services to cope with a 24 hour economy.
— The need for a strategic and co-ordinated
approach to be taken to policy development in this area.
4. Since the publication of the original
report there have been a number of policy developments.
PUBLICATION OF
THE NATIONAL
ALCOHOL HARM
REDUCTION STRATEGY
5. Although recognising the problems associated
with the Evening Economy, The arrival of the National Alcohol
Harm Reduction Strategy in 2004 recommended little in the way
of solutions. The approach taken was very much around tackling
the crime and disorder rather than preventing problems from arising
and the report concluded that the enforcement powers needed were
largely already in existence.
6. Our concern has been that this does not
provide a basis on which to move forwards on this issue. There
was little exploration of the reasons why enforcement does not
take place, nor was there any incentives given to change the culture
of policing of offences related with drunkenness. This is of concern
given that between 1994 and 2002, there was an average of only
264 prosecutions for underage sales in any licensed premises in
England and Wales, including pubs and clubs prosecutions and only
120 prosecutions for since 1994 for "allowing drunken and
riotous behaviour" on licensed premises[3].
GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS
ON "DRINKING
RESPONSIBLY"
7. In response to concerns over the impact
of licensing changes on crime and disorder, the Home Office, DCMS
and ODPM, released a joint consultation document looking at proposals
to tackle alcohol related disorder. The document suggested the
introduction of a number of measures including "Alcohol Disorder
Zones" to tackle areas where problems are in evidence. These
proposals, once again are reactive rather than proactive solutions
to alcohol related disorder and whilst the benefits of a focused
multi agency approach to these problems can be effective, we would
suggest that it would be more effective and less bureaucratic
to deal with prevention of alcohol related disorder in the first
instance.
8. One welcome step forwards with the concept
of the new Zones is that it acknowledges Licensees must be accountable
for the impact their business can have on local communities. Under
the current licensing legislation, little progress has been made
on licensees accepting they have any responsibility for events
which occur outside their premises. These Zones will help to build
this sort of accountability and will benefit local communities.
9. There has been little detail given on
how the new Alcohol Disorder Zones will fit into other functions
within Local Authorities. We believe strongly that they should
link into the planning system and licensing systems as a whole,
as it would be incoherent for an area to be designated an ADZ
whilst giving permission for new bars and pubs to be opened or
current ones opened for longer.
CONCLUSION
10. We were delighted that the Select Committee
Report recommended that local authorities needed to put together
an action plan to guide the development of the evening economy
and were disappointed that this recommendation was not taken up
by central Government.
11. Even the considerable media, political
and public interest in the impact of licensing laws on the problems
in our Town and city centres, which led to the publication of
"Drinking Responsibly" has done little to inspire the
Government to take a proactive stance to the development of the
Evening Economy. The central flaw in the legislation and policy
approach remains therefore that responsible authorities are left
to react to rather than prevent the problem from arising.
12. Alcohol Concern has been vocal in it's
criticism of the restrictive approach the Licensing Act takes
to the ability of Local Authorities to develop the night time
economy. We believe that guidance issued on implementing the Licensing
Act should be amended to give local authorities the powers to
enforce licensing policies without the need for representation
from other partners and to include proactive measures such as
banning of irresponsible promotions as part of license conditions.
3 Hansard House of Commons Written Answers for 10 January
2005, Column 266W. Back
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