Whitbread agrees to court's alcopop ban
Whitbread has become the first pub group to agree to a court ban on selling alcopops in order to gain a new licence.
In what appears to be an early shot in the Government's crackdown on under-age drinking, the condition was attached by Kingston Crown Court when it reversed a refusal by the Licensing Justices for a new Whitbread Hogshead in Victoria Road, Surbiton, Surrey.
The refusal had stemmed from police concern over public disorder problems from young people. A new licence for a nearby pub had recently been granted to JD Wetherspoon, which had voluntarily decided not to stock alcopops.
Craig Baylis, partner at solicitor Paisner & Co, said breaching this condition would not constitute a criminal offence under the Licensing Act 1964 but could "form the basis for revocation proceedings".
The lack of a legal definition of alcopops could also create problems, said Mr Baylis: "If the premises were to sell, for example, a Bacardi Breezer, would they be in breach of the condition?"
