Labour announces tougher alcohol promotion rules
January 19, 2010
The government has announced that after April establishments which sell alcohol will no longer be allowed to advertise drinks promotions which encourage people to binge-drink. Home Secretary Alan Johnson said that it was the duty of the government to make sure that those who encourage irresponsible drinking are prevented from doing so. He said that the new measures would be aimed at combating an issue that affects everyone in the country. Bars, clubs and pubs will no longer be able to advertise promotions which encourage speed drinking or drinking to excess. Mr. Johnson went on to say that Britain’s binge drinking culture is resulting in levels of crime which are costing the country billions of pounds a year. He said that he realised that most premises which sold alcohol were doing so in a responsible manner but that the new laws would target the minority who were encouraging customers to drink to excess.
Chris Grayling, the shadow home secretary has condemned Labour for allowing a binge-drinking culture to thrive. He said that the government’s introduction of 24-hour licensing had done nothing to curb the problem. Mr. Grayling announced that under a Conservative government the country’s towns and cities would be handed back the power to tackle the problem with the option to impose charges on off-licenses selling alcohol after 10.30 at night and drinking establishments which stay open past midnight. He said that revenue raised in this way would be put towards better policing of areas which suffer from the results of excessive drinking.
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