| Mr Gordon Bruce also criticised the Scottish Executive over the debacle that surrounded the stage three debate on the Licensing (Scotland) Bill at Holyrood (see below). “Holyrood just doesn’t seem to know what it’s doing on this,” said Mr Bruce, “Caught in the middle is the licensed trade. It should really be left up to people locally to decide what happens in their areas.”
Mr Bruce’s criticism coincided with Scottish retailers reacting angrily to the events at Holyrood, which are set to restrict the hours alcohol can be sold by the off-trade, but not pubs and clubs (the on-trade).
The Scottish Retail Consortium said today the “flurry of last minute amendments” last night had come “amid political wrangling and unfounded claims that retailers are fuelling alcohol-related antisocial behaviour.”
SRC director Fiona Moriarty said the political wrangling had fundamentally distorted a Bill based on extensive consultation and the sound principles of the Nicholson recommendations in relation to creating a licensing system fit for the 21st century.
“Some serious questions must now be asked regarding Stage 3 procedures,” she said.
Mr Bruce said today he remained firmly against 24-hour opening of pubs and clubs. He believed 16 hours out of 24 was adequate and more appropriate. This allowed licensees time to get their premises cleaned and prepared for business.
“Twenty four hour opening obviously causes staffing problems as well,” Mr Bruce commented. “It’s a horrendous situation.” But while critical of round-the-clock opening for the on-trade, Mr Bruce did give his backing to a restriction of off-sales, adding, “I’m against a relaxation for off-sales.”
However, Mr Bruce said the general picture being presented by Holyrood in the light of last night’s events was “a mess”.
“They should be bringing in the Scottish Licensed Trade Association and other beer associations, talking to them and listening to them,” he said. “Holyrood doesn’t appear to know what it’s doing, so how are we expected to know?”
The SRC said today that currently retailers can sell alcohol from 8am-10pm Monday to Saturday, but the amendments to the Bill as passed yesterday, means these hours will be reduced to 10am-10pm, with no option to apply for more flexibility under the new licensing laws. Pub and club hours, however, will remain unchanged, and they will still have the option to apply for a 24-hour licence.
“The Bill as passed is a complete departure from Nicholson’s recommendations, and has led to policy being set nationally, through statute, stripping away a key power from local licensing boards,” said Ms Moriarty.
“We find it very worrying that policy is being developed on assumptions and proposition. The SRC demonstrated in evidence to committee that we are responsible retailers, but Parliament has chosen to ignore this.
“Restricting hours for only the off trade wrongly implies that retailers are directly responsible for alcohol-related problems. In reality, there is no link between the sale of alcohol by the off trade and the type of problems being tackled here.”
Ms Moriarty said alcohol was typically bought from stores for consumption at home, and therefore cannot be linked to the drunken crowds exiting pubs and clubs in the evenings, and the alcohol-fuelled disorder that follows.
In addition, the SRC did not accept the argument that allowing longer selling hours for the off trade will lead to increased consumption.
The consortium said retailers had given “huge resources” to alcohol issues, recognising the need for strict policies on sales and working with the community to create a safe environment for all shoppers. |
