The new MP for North Warwickshire & Bedworth, Dan Byles, has singled out measures in the Queen’s Speech over alcohol pricing and licencing as being of particular welcome for his constituency.
The new measures, which have the backing of the British Beer & Pub Association and of Tesco chief Sir Terry Leahy, include:
• Banning the sale of alcohol below cost price
• Reviewing alcohol taxation to tackle binge drinking whilst not unfairly penalising responsible drinkers
• Introducing stronger powers for police and local authorities to remove or refuse to give licences to problem premises
• Providing police and local authorities with the power to shut down permanently any shop or bar found persistently to be selling alcohol to children
• Enabling local councils to charge more for licences to pay for more police
• Increasing the maximum fine for selling alcohol to children to £20,000
Dan said: “Many local people are deeply concerned about antisocial behaviour fuelled by cheap supermarket-bought alcohol. I am delighted to see this being addressed, and to see major supermarket chains like Tesco supporting the measures.
“But most importantly the issue of underage children buying alcohol is one that has been raised with me time and again, particularly in the villages where there are few leisure and sports facilities for young people. The current licencing laws need to be tightened, and these measures will go a long way towards helping the problem. Any establishment caught repeatedly selling alcohol to children should be shut down, and this is an issue I will be watching very closely.
“Finally, the local British pub has been under threat for a long time. Too many pubs are closing every week because they can’t compete with supermarkets selling alcohol below cost price. These measures will help to protect local pubs, which are a vital part of our heritage and in rural areas are often the centre of community life.”
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