Yates boss urges fellow operators to help clamp down on binge-drinking

Yates Group chief executive Mark Jones has called for pub operators to be more proactive in managing the perception of the industry or face further taxation to control alcohol-fuelled disorder problems.
Jones fears the public mood could push politicians to hit the licensed trade with a mandatory levy to pay for extra policing.
"I'm against mandatory funding for policing and instead believe that by paying for specific schemes now we can head it off," said Jones.
The company has agreed to pay for two additional police officers to patrol Nottingham's town centre on Saturday nights.
Starting on 9 April, the officers will be on duty from 9.30pm to 1.30am but will not be tied to Yates's three premises. Jones categorically denied speculation that he had been forced into the action by the police because of trouble at one of his bars.
Yates has set aside £12,000 to pay for the police for a year if the eight-week trial is successful.
However, a spokesman for the British Beer and Pub Association played down fears of an alcohol levy being introduced. "More money will not solve this; the police need to make more consistent use of their existing powers to tackle problem pubs."
Yates has succeeded in its £3.55m bid for the Santa Fe chain of seven, mostly Mexican-themed, restaurants.

CAPTION: Yates has agreed to pay for two extra police officers in Nottingham