Anti-drink proposals are a threat to small shops, says ACS

Shopkeepers could their "basic rights of appeal" if proposals announced yesterday by the Government to overhaul the licensing system go ahead, according to the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS).

The ACS has reacted to the Home Office consultation on proposals to reform the Licensing Act and to introduce a ban on the below cost sale of alcohol. The consultation proposes new powers for local authorities and a significant erosion of licence holders' rights.

James Lowman, ACS chief executive, said: "ACS is keen to play a constructive role in this consultation. We will be strongly advising ministers that these proposals go far beyond a 'rebalancing' of the Act and instead would hand absolute power to local authorities, residents groups and police while businesses would lose even basic rights of appeal.

"Ministers are ignoring the fact that councils, police and residents can make bad decisions, or that they may act on prejudices rather than evidence.

"Safeguards for business are vital, and are required to ensure effective partnership based solutions to community problems can be achieved.

"Ministers have not shown how the proposals would lead to better results than those already seen in communities across the country.

The proposed six-week window for consultation is not enough time to take a proper look at the evidence. Ministers are heading at breakneck speed to a range of policies that are poorly conceived and massively burdensome on thousands of responsible community businesses."

Leading spirits company Diageo GB has generally welcomed the Government's proposals, although it still has reservations about an imposed pricing policy.

Simon Litherland, managing director, Diageo GB, said: "At the heart of the Government's consultation is the opportunity for local authorities to find the right solutions for their local communities.

"We thoroughly support that approach and work with a large number of authorities throughout the country to deal with their specific issues. We fully endorse the Government's tough stance and desire to take action on those found consistently selling alcohol to children.

"We believe that measures suggested today by the Home Secretary such as taking tough action against those premises that break the law, are a much more effective way of tackling alcohol problems than a pricing policy, such as a ban on below cost selling, which will impact everyone."

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