Minister lays down the law

The Government expects licensees to see to it that all their staff are fully trained. "They must know the law and they must understand their responsibilities for doing all in their power to ensure that pubs and clubs prevent disorder and crime," said Home Office Minister, Mike O'Brien, recently. "And that includes drug penetration - not just violence and drunkenness."

Mr O'Brien was addressing a gathering of people involved in the hospitality and leisure industry on their role in fighting crime and disorder. Speaking of the link between alcohol and crime, he outlined the way in which licensing law reform would help in the aim of allowing people to enjoy themselves in ways that do not annoy or threaten others. He said that the aim was to produce a White Paper "early in the New Year" and that legislation will follow when Parliamentary time permits: "I don't know when that will be, and nor does Jack Straw." He went on to say that there is plenty that can be done before any reform comes into effect. "The public, police officers, and local councillors have all indicated that alcohol-related crime and disorder is a significant problem now."

Mike O'Brien listed the means local communities had to combat this, pointing out that key elements in any strategy must include the control of the environment inside and close to licensed premises and the reduction of the availability of alcohol to young people. "Anti-Social Behaviour Orders can be used to address public misuse of alcohol and bye-laws can be used by local authorities to make it an offence to consume alcohol in a designated public place after being warned by a police officer not to do so." In addition, Mr O'Brien said that the Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act deals with the problem of under-age drinking in public and that exclusion orders are available to bar people who commit offences on licensed premises from other public houses in the area. The latter have been used to considerable effect in York. He also pointed to the successful way that Northumbria Police had used the Inebriates Act, passed in 1898 when Lord Salisbury was Prime Minister, to keep away habitual drunkards firm licensed premises.

Any initiatives the police and local authorities take, however, will be wasted "unless the industry as a whole commits itself to the reduction of crime and disorder," said Mr O'Brien. He praised the work of crime reduction partnerships and said that it was necessary to "get the licensed trade on board." According to the minister, the consumption of alcohol had been part of this country's "social fabric for more than a thousand years" - words reminiscent of those used by drink industry-funded agencies - and he wants to see people free to enjoy its use safe from violence and other crime. The government has shown itself amenable to industry involvement in the formation of alcohol policy (see Alert No. 3, 1999) and Mike O'Brien, speaking to his audience at the Licensee and Morning Advertiser Dinner, emphasised this: "I do not want the industry to be seen or talked about as part of the problem. I want you to be part of the solution." Since any solution necessarily entails a reduction in sales, the minister's hope may prove something of a challenge.

The question as to what the government will propose in its White Paper remains unanswered, at least by ministers.