Government officials are cracking down on public drunkenness - especially in women. In new restrictions being introduced, the law will prohibit bars to offer free drinks as well as reducing the amount of free tastings they can offer to women.
A growing concern has been the idea of ‘Happy Hour’ - many experts feel it actively encourages people to get drunk faster, for as little money as possible. Therefore, happy hour must now offer the same discounts on non-alcoholic drinks. In addition, restaurants must serve wine in glasses, with marked measures.
The new proposals, created by the Home Office and the Department of Health, endeavor to break down the British drinking culture and thwart the idea that drinking is a sign of financial wealth or sexual prowess.
A voluntary regulation which was brought in by the Government to reduce binge drinking has failed to make a difference, with the number of people being treated for alcohol related illness increasing over 100 per cent in the last ten years. Therefore, ministers are cracking down and introducing a new obligatory code to tackle the problem.
Relentless discounts and promotions by the drinks industry have prevented any significant change in the drinking culture of young Brits today.
The new law is a real shake up in the drinks industry and proprietors, suppliers and manufacturers must follow these strict guidelines:
— Cigarette-style health warnings will have to be displayed wherever alcoholic drinks are sold. This would include shops, bars and, according to the industry, could force restaurants to place an official “sensible drinking message” on every table.
— A curb on promotional free wine, whisky and beer tastings. No samples may exceed 125ml and “care must be taken to ensure that customers do not return for further tastings and run the risk of becoming intoxicated”.
— A ban on drinking games, such as downing a glass in one, and “drink all you like” offers for those paying an entry fee will be abolished.
— Wine in restaurants will have to be served in glasses with measures marked on the side.
In addition, drinks should not be marketed in a way that associates drinking with personal success, and neither should they claim to increase a person’s “social, sexual, physical, mental, financial or sporting performance”.
The usage of sexually graphic names for cocktails like, ‘Sex on the Beach’ will also be banned.
Like cigarette health warnings on packets, bottles and glasses should now contain information letting the drinker know how many units they are drinking, a statement from chief medical officers about safe daily drinking limits as well as a website address providing further information about responsible drinking.
The new code may reduce the number of casual bar staff as employers will be required to provide mandatory training to their employees. Failure to provide training, which would include confirming a customer’s age refusing to serve anyone underage or intoxicated as well as preventing drunken disturbances, could become an offence.
Further, Alcohol Concern proposes that successful gain of a pub license should be determined by whether this obligatory training has been provided to staff.
Health experts have welcomed the new codes - Professor Ian Gilmore, president of the Royal College of Physicians, said,
“The voluntary partnerships of the drinks industry are clearly not working. Mandatory codes at this stage are essential. I think the next step will be to tackle the heavy discounting through a minimum price for a unit of alcohol.”
However, the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) have spoken out, saying the move would greatly reduce the amount of bar work available for students during holidays, as well as making it impossible to be fully staffed for large sporting events, such as the Beijing Olympics. Mark Hastings, their communications director said,
“Most of these proposals are disproportionate and some are just plain daft. Every restaurant table and hotel room will need to have a detailed sensible drinking sign. Every document published by a drinks company will need to carry the sensible drinking message.”
October 30th, 2011 at 10:17 pm
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