Member Article

Pub leaders oppose Blackpool's proposed alcohol restrictions

Pub industry leaders have opposed Blackpool council’s decision to implement an order than will prevent pubs from selling alcohol after 3 am.

The council intends to impose an Early Morning Restriction Order (EMRO) to prevent crime and disorder in the town, however the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) says this would be damaging to Blackpool’s economy, and would not necessarily decrease crime.

BBPA said businesses who depend on late night trade would lose the keystone of their income, and “given the current economic circumstances”, this EMRO could make their companies unsustainable.

The association also said the order could result in job losses and economic damage to the town, while a surge of people leaving clubs and bars could put added pressure on Blackpool’s police and taxi marshals.

Instead of restricting alcohol selling times, BBPA recommended the council and police should work closer with nightclubs, pubs and bars, and warned that an EMRO would undermine any potential good relationships.

Businesses who have already been granted their hours through legitimate applications could be penalised, BBPA said, and may not be given the opportunity to oppose the order.

The association added that Blackpool has already successfully implemented a Pubwatch scheme, and won the National Pubwatch award 2013.

Lancashire Police said: “The main night-time economy of the town is a hot spot in terms of crime and disorder and needs significant resource to police”

BBPA opposed suggestions that this culture would change under an EMRO, and said the situation with crime could even worsen and disorder spread over a wider area.

Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of BBPA, commented: “The council and police understandably want to promote a family friendly destination, but an EMRO is not a catch-all solution.

“It may encourage ‘preloading’ by drinkers who think that venues will close earlier, and would also damage the Blackpool economy.

“Other local authorities, Hartlepool and Northampton, have just abandoned their plans for an EMRO, and I hope Blackpool has a rethink.

“We need closer working between the hospitality sector, the council and the police to tackle problems, as has been done successfully in other towns and cities.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .