General news - Politics Rss news feed for Morning Advertiser

Police retract minimum price call

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:34:00 GMT

A senior policeman in Loughborough has retracted calls for pubs to ensure they don’t sell drinks below £1.50.

'Disappointing' turn-out for mandatory code show

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:08:00 GMT

A trade chief says it’s “very disappointing” not a single licensee attended the first two regional roadshows on Government plans on new red tape.

BBPA high in lobbying stakes

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 07:13:00 GMT

The British Beer & Pub Association has been ranked above a host of top names in terms of its lobbying power.

Top barrister to steer pub trade reform

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:26:00 GMT

A renowned barrister who specialises in commercial mediation has been appointed to lead the process of self-reform within the pub trade.

Shepherd Neame plays tactical game at Hastings

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:08:00 GMT

Shepherd Neame has agreed to new licence conditions at three Hastings pubs to stave off licence suspensions.

Payne: ‘It’s time for new ID guidelines’

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:00:00 GMT

A trade leader says the industry and authorities should re-think which ID pubs should accept to avoid underage sales.

Councils question mandatory code logic

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:18:00 GMT

Council chiefs in the North East have questioned the logic of new Government plans to force new mandatory conditions on pubs.

Lords question two-strikes rule on underage sales

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:32:00 GMT

Lords have challenged the Government to prove why a two-strikes-and-you’re-out rule is needed for underage alcohol sales.

'Restrictive covenants on pubs a disgrace'

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:56:00 GMT

Restrictive covenants on pubs being sold are a “revolver to the head” of local authorities but small changes in planning could make a huge difference.

Punch to attend Fair Pint talks

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:44:00 GMT

Punch Taverns has agreed to hold talks with anti-beer tie brigade Fair Pint at Westminster next week.

GMB pulls out of trade mediation talks

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 02:58:00 GMT

Trade Union GMB has pulled out of the industry's crunch mediation meeting on Thursday, claiming it is a "sham" process.

Welsh pubs in cash for loos plan

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:31:00 GMT

Pubs across Wales can now get paid to let non-customers use their toilets.

Bristol pub banned from using glass

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:57:00 GMT

A Bristol pub has been banned from serving any drinks in glass and running drinks promotions following an incident involving a police officer.

Licensee bids to be Lib Dem MP

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:43:00 GMT

A Dorset licensee is bidding to become a Lib Dem MP at the next general election.

'Rural pubs need 100% rate relief to survive'

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:17:00 GMT

Rural pubs must be offered 100% rate relief if they are to survive, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

Mulholland: Enterprise offer a 'sick joke'

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:52:00 GMT

Fierce anti-pubco MP Greg Mulholland has slammed Enterprise's offer to fund a new tenant's body as a "sick joke".

Red tape crippling pubs

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:29:00 GMT

Pubs and other small businesses are having to spend an average of 41 hours a week dealing with red tape, according to a new survey.

WSTA hits out at 80p minimum price

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:04:00 GMT

A trade body has condemned calls for an 80p per-unit minimum price plan - saying it would see bottles of wine cost £8.

'Make drink health warnings compulsory'

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:25:00 GMT

Unit labelling and health warnings should be compulsory on all alcohol packaging, says the Drinkaware Trust.

Minimum price in Scotland is 'non-negotiable'

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:06:00 GMT

A minimum price on alcohol in Scotland is seen as "non-negotiable" by the ruling Scottish National Party.

Top cop: ban all alcohol advertising

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:49:00 GMT

A senior influential policeman has called for a minimum price of 80p per unit on alcohol and a complete ban on all alcohol advertising.

Mosh pit drinks ban overruled

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:00:00 GMT

A nightclub and music venue has won its appeal against a ban on drinking in the area where bands play.

ID cards will help fight against underage drinking

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:38:00 GMT

National ID cards will benefit the fight against underage drinking, according to Home Secretary Alan Johnson.

Second Best Bar None Conference in October

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:10:00 GMT

Advice on best practice, plus news and views from industry experts, will be available at the conference in Leicester.

Union inundated with calls from distressed licensees

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:55:00 GMT

Trade union Unite and Inez Ward's Justice for Licensees have been contacted by 117 licensees facing eviction in the last four weeks.

Ex-Sports Minister calls for beer tie review

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:25:00 GMT

Kate Hoey, Labour MP for Vauxhall, has voiced her support for the Fair Pint campaign and promised to write to Peter Mandelson to urge a Competition Commission investigation into the beer tie. Includes video.

Mandatory code hits the road

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:08:00 GMT

The Government is embarking on a 10-day national tour to “inform the future development” of its controversial mandatory alcohol retailing code.

Government rejects business rates spending plan

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 01:17:00 GMT

The Government has rejected plans to let businesses vote on how proposed extra business rates will be spent.

'No need for cig vending machine ban'

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:32:00 GMT

Late-night bars are tackling problems relating to underage entry with “excellent results” — so the Government should lay off new restrictions on cigarette sales.

Hosts warned to act on noise in pubs

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:16:00 GMT

Warning comes after all 13 bars tested in Newcastle were found to have illegally high levels of noise.

Scotland urged to take up minimum pricing

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:31:00 GMT

Scotland has been urged to become the first country to adopt a minimum price on alcohol.

Beckenham bar beats cumulative impact ruling

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:33:00 GMT

A Beckenham bar has won the right to extend its opening hours despite being in a controversial cumulative impact zone.

Amend smoking ban, save pubs — says new campaign

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:41:00 GMT

A new cross-party campaign has called for changes to the smoking ban to help save pubs and clubs.

Labour calls for ban on cheap alcohol in Scotland

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:02:00 GMT

Labour wants a ban on all alcohol advertising near schools and the sale of cheap booze in Scotland.

Police want licensee on site at all times

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 03:43:00 GMT

Police want to force six Hastings pubs to ensure a personal licence holder is on site whenever alcohol is served.

Personal licence shortfall in Scotland

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:54:00 GMT

Thousands have yet to apply for a personal licence, required by 1 September, in Scotland.

Opinion: upbeat vibe at landmark mediation meet

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:45:00 GMT

The landmark mediation talks have been likened to solving the pub trade's equivalent of Northern Ireland or the Middle East. Ewan Turney was there.

Update: mediation meeting 'constructive'

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:41:00 GMT

Today's crunch talks on the future of the pub industry are expected to be the first of many mediation meetings.

Crunch talks on pubco reform

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:14:00 GMT

The trade is facing a day of destiny as crunch talks get underway on how to reform the beer tie and pubco model.

'Reform or face up to Competition Commission inquiry'

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:18:00 GMT

The pub industry must accept real reform if it is to avoid a Competition Commission inquiry, vociferous anti-tie MP Greg Mulholland has warned.

Trade groups urge Home Secretary to scrap code

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:22:00 GMT

Trade groups have urged the Home Secretary to scrap proposals for a mandatory code on alcohol retailing.

Gov 'feels obliged' to bring in alcohol code

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:10:00 GMT

Trade leaders were told the Government feels obliged to push ahead with its controversial mandatory alcohol retailing code during a top-level meeting this morning.

Funding available for underage crackdown

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:39:00 GMT

A total of £1.4m has been made available to help towns combat underage drinking over the summer.

New bid to free up live pub music

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:01:00 GMT

A Liberal Democrat peer is to table a Private Member’s Bill to make it easier for pubs to stage live music.

Luff may intervene to give trade time on BEC

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 03:15:00 GMT

Peter Luff MP says he may intervene with Government to give the trade more time to respond to the report’s findings.

PM may refer pubco probe to OFT

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 02:57:00 GMT

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he will refer the investigation into pubco power to the Office of Fair Trading if the the evidence is strong enough.

High Court pubwatch ban case adjourned

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:55:00 GMT

A High Court test case examining the legality of Pubwatch bans has been adjourned.

MP: Gov plans on alcohol are not sufficient

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 07:07:00 GMT

An influential Labour MP has told a Home Office minister he’s “disappointed” the Government has failed to push ahead with minimum pricing of alcohol.

Better education can beat binge drinking

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 07:02:00 GMT

Better education and a focus on partnership schemes are the ways to reduce harmful drinking, says a report on alcohol misuse in London.

Pubwatch bans back in High Court

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 02:59:00 GMT

The legality of Pubwatch bans face further examination as a second legal challenge got underway in the High Court today.

Enterprise: parts of BEC hard to argue with

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:13:00 GMT

A senior executive at Enterprise Inns has stated that there are recommendations within the BEC report, which was highly critical of pubco/tenant relations, that “are difficult to argue with”.

Oldham cancels six licence reviews

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:57:00 GMT

Oldham has cancelled licence review hearings at six bars that it expects will “voluntarily” agree to new restrictions on trading.

Pubs to get VAT reprieve

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:49:00 GMT

Pubs and clubs will be able to delay the change in VAT rate from 15% to 17.5% until 1 January.

Proof that HSBC won’t lend to pubs

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:01:00 GMT

An email from an HSBC local manager, seen by the Morning Advertiser, shows clearly that the bank does have a policy of not lending to pubs.

New petition to save the British pub

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:39:00 GMT

A new petition has been launched to save the great British pub by campaigners — it calls for Government action to help.

Fair Pint: talks no substitute for inquiry

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:22:00 GMT

A negotiated agreement for reform should not be seen as an alternative to a full Competition Commission inquiry, Fair Pint has said.

Mulholland: pubco bosses should step down

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:20:00 GMT

The bosses of Britain's biggest pubcos should step down with immediate effect — that's the call from staunch anti-pubco MP Greg Mulholland.

ALMR: give us 6 months to sort it out

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:16:00 GMT

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers has written to BEC chairman Peter Luff asking for six months to sort the industry's problems out.

New Culture boss is Camra man

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 07:25:00 GMT

The new head of the Government Department responsible for licensing is a member of the Campaign for Real Ale.

Planning law must change to stop pub closures

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 01:57:00 GMT

Planning law must be changed to enshrine the future of the British pub in law and halt closures, according to the Save the Pub Group.

AWP pub prizes double from Friday

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:14:00 GMT

AWP suppliers say they’re working hard to ensure pubs can offer higher stakes and prizes when they get the green light to do so this Friday.

Hope for pub AWP tax windfall

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:21:00 GMT

Licensees and pub operators could claim some of the £500m windfall in overpaid VAT on gaming machines after a landmark High Court ruling.

New anti-binge drinking TV ads set for launch

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:10:00 GMT

View a sneak preview video of the Government's new anti-binge drinking ad campaign, set to launch on Monday.

EU prepared to alter beer tie

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:02:00 GMT

The EU has indicated its upcoming review of the beer tie could lead to changes in how the tie fits within European competition law.

Peer: mandatory code will stigmatise pubs

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:45:00 GMT

The mandatory code on alcohol is “potentially punitive” and will “stigmatise” well run pubs, according to one Peer.

Tory MP holds office in JDW pub

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 07:08:00 GMT

Conservative MP and Shadow Minister for the Enviromnent, Anne McIntosh, held an hour-long surgery at a Wetherspoon’s pub in Thirsk.

Pubs in line for £3m TV lottery project

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Pubs are urged to get involved in a £3m project that will see National Lottery cash granted for community projects.

Fair Pint and GMB to meet Prime Minister

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:11:00 GMT

The Prime Minister is to meet Fair Pint and the GMB at the union’s annual conference in Blackpool’s Winter Gardens.

Fair Pint marches on Europe

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:02:00 GMT

A powerful alliance of anti-pubco campaigners is looking to Europe for a new front in their battle to break the beer tie.

'Case for minimum pricing is weak'

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:29:00 GMT

The case for having minimum pricing of alcohol is “weak” and previous studies about its impact have been “overestimated”.

British beer tax near top of Euro league

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 06:34:00 GMT

British beer drinkers pay more than nine times more duty than drinkers in Germany and France, new figures on tax rates show.

Man behind beer tax embroiled in expenses saga

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 06:03:00 GMT

Chancellor Alistair Darling — one of the pub trade's most vilified figures for his beer tax hikes — has become embroiled in the expenses saga.

'Anti-drinking ads woefully inadequate'

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 05:56:00 GMT

A charity has blasted the Government's anti-binge drinking campaigns as "woefully inadequate".

HSBC sorry for saying it won’t lend to pubs

Fri, 29 May 2009 07:40:00 GMT

HSBC has admitted one of its staff told a licensee the bank won’t lend to pubs — and has apologised.

Oldham hosts want Best Bar None

Wed, 27 May 2009 03:30:00 GMT

Licensees in Oldham have backed calls for the introduction of a Best Bar None scheme to ward off the threat of blanket licence reviews.

Wrexham MP to meet licensees over beer tie

Wed, 27 May 2009 01:16:00 GMT

A Labour MP is to meet with licensees in his area to discuss the beer tie before submitting his findings to the Government.

Rent dispute scheme progress 'encouraging'

Wed, 27 May 2009 09:18:00 GMT

A formal meeting between three trade groups into plans for an independent, low-cost rent adjudication system has been described as “encouraging”.

MATV: pub tenants call for an end to the tie

Fri, 22 May 2009 01:16:00 GMT

Watch video footage and interviews with members of the Fair Pint campaign as they lobbied MPs at Westminster.

BEC chair embroiled in expenses row

Fri, 22 May 2009 01:05:00 GMT

The chair of the controversial inquiry into pubco power has become embroiled in the expenses furore.

Brighton MPs back pubco Competition Commission probe

Fri, 22 May 2009 07:57:00 GMT

Two Brighton Labour MPs have promised to support calls for a Competition Commission inquiry into pubco power.

Ex Punch boss: don't play the blame game

Fri, 22 May 2009 07:33:00 GMT

We can only solve the trade’s complex problems by working together, says former head of Punch leased division Deborah Kemp.

Trust in the trade — a Manifesto

Thu, 21 May 2009 09:49:00 GMT

The Morning Advertiser has launched a Manifesto for restoring trust between licensees and pubcos. To keep politicians out of our business, the trade must show it can sort out its own problems.

BBPA: abolishing tie will increase pub closures

Wed, 20 May 2009 07:42:00 GMT

Scrapping the tie would result in higher rents, a restriction in the choice of beer and more pub closures, BBPA tells MPs.

Trade unions scrap over tied pub tenants

Wed, 20 May 2009 07:01:00 GMT

Two trade unions are scrapping over the affections of the anti-beer tie Fair Pint campaign and licensees across the country.

Breweries exempt from alcohol display rules

Tue, 19 May 2009 06:51:00 GMT

Distilleries and breweries will be exempt from regulations on how they can display alcohol in Scotland.

Aberdeen wants alcohol ban after 1am

Mon, 18 May 2009 12:43:00 GMT

Aberdeen Licensing Board has tabled plans to impose a blanket ban on alcohol sales after 1am.

Community order for security firm boss

Mon, 18 May 2009 08:53:00 GMT

The ex-director of a Peterborough security firm has been given an 18-month community punishment order for supplying unlicensed security staff.

Code to cost pubs up to £246 each

Fri, 15 May 2009 09:40:00 GMT

Current plans to force pubs to abide by a mandatory alcohol retailing code are set to cost far less than originally expected.

Late night sector welcomes Licensing Act review

Fri, 15 May 2009 07:06:00 GMT

Trade representatives for the late night sector have welcomed the key recommendations of the Licensing Act report.

Three banks deny anti-pub policy

Fri, 15 May 2009 06:59:00 GMT

Three major banks have written to the Morning Advertiser to stress that they don’t have a blanket policy of denying loans to pubs.

Trade leaders hopeful on blanket Oldham conditions

Thu, 14 May 2009 04:48:00 GMT

Trade leaders have had a “positive” meeting with Oldham Council as they urge the authority to abandon plans for blanket licence reviews.

Brulines seeks legal advice over BEC report

Thu, 14 May 2009 02:50:00 GMT

Brulines is taking advice on legal action following criticism about its products in the Business and Enterprise Committee report.

MPs' licensing report is 'missed opportunity'

Thu, 14 May 2009 10:48:00 GMT

The report into the Licensing Act is a “missed opportunity” to put pressure on the Government to make it work better for pubs, says the ALMR.

BII: BEC misunderstood our role

Thu, 14 May 2009 10:43:00 GMT

The BII has expressed its “disappointment” over claims by the BEC that lessees have very little confidence in it because of a conflict of interests.

MPs: axe restrictions on live pub music

Thu, 14 May 2009 09:31:00 GMT

Venues with a capacity of under 200 should be allowed to put on live music without the need for additional licensing conditions, say MPs.

Union to brief Prime Minister on tied pubs

Thu, 14 May 2009 09:16:00 GMT

A trade union has been asked to brief the Prime Minister on the plight of tied pubs.

Health campaigner backs pubs

Thu, 14 May 2009 07:10:00 GMT

An influential alcohol health campaigner has urged the Government to act more favourably towards well-run pubs.

Big pubcos hammered by MPs

Thu, 14 May 2009 12:02:00 GMT

MPs are calling for a full-scale review of the tie by the Competition Commission and “urgent action by the Government”.

ALMR lashes out at 'arrogant' Government

Wed, 13 May 2009 03:44:00 GMT

The Government is “arrogant and out of touch” for pressing ahead with a mandatory code on alcohol retailing, say trade bosses.

Mulholland: new beer orders needed

Wed, 13 May 2009 03:00:00 GMT

Vociferous Lib Dem MP Greg Mulholland has called for a fresh set of beer orders in the wake of the damning pubco report.