We need a fresh look at the licensing laws

It is a great shame that even some of the better intentions of Government frequently go wrong. A good example is the failure of the introduction of Children's Certificates.

The aim was plausible enough: to provide an easy way for pubs to get licences to allow children into their bars. But the reality has seen petty bureaucracy put most landlords off applying.

So it is good to see that the Home Office is to issue fresh guidelines to local licensing authorities in order to try to restore some faith in the system. It has also promised to look into making other modifications to the country's licensing laws to make it easier for restaurants to serve alcohol with meals after 11pm.

Parliamentary under secretary at the Home Office, Timothy Kirkhope, said at the Restaurateurs Association of Great Britain (RAGB) conference in London this week that the Government was committed to freeing up licensing laws. But its efforts seem to be being thwarted at almost every turn by local licensing authorities who appear to interpret the rules how they like.

This has no doubt been partly caused by the piecemeal approach to licensing reform, which has prevented a clear national policy being established. Although there is now more freedom on licensing issues, the confusion for businesses and, more importantly, consumers has never been greater.

As RAGB vice president Stephen Moss said at the conference, the real need is for the Government to take a clean sheet of paper and start again. He cited the example of outdoor eating as an area where restaurateurs face a mass of red tape when they are simply seeking to satisfy a simple consumer demand.

When it comes to drinking alcohol with food, one really does wonder what the nation's army of bureaucrats and magistrates is trying to protect us from. The evidence from just across the English Channel is that greater freedom leads to a more responsible attitude, not less.

For too long the state has tried to intervene in the pleasures of the majority because of some sort of bizarre belief that it is protecting them from a minority who would abuse the freedom given. It is a policy that has clearly failed.

Only with a fundamental review of licensing laws can we hope to create a system that works for businesses and consumers.

Where are the politicians with the guts not only to recognise that but to do something about it?

GARY CROSSLEY

Editor

Caterer & Hotelkeeper