Just noticed that the official announcement above doesn't include a link to the actual call for evidence (!!). It's here:

www.gov.uk/government/c...

There are other proposals re digitising the system and making it easier to serve on pavements. None require core principles of accountability, conditions, or local control to be weakened. It's not clear the Govt recognises this, so full implications need to be addressed in forthcoming debates.

On principle licensing should be independent of the businesses it regulates. These plans risk reversing that, while weakening scrutiny and accountability. Regardless of views on whether pubs can drive economic regeneration (moot point…), this is essentially about core regulatory principles.

The proposals also include a fifth licensing objective to promote the economy. Pubs need support - but licensing has always existed to set guardrails against harm not promote business. This would change that primary purpose, creating new conflicts between public protection and private interests.

NB – though framed as boosting nightlife, the reforms would equally affect shops, supermarkets and online - where most alcohol is sold. The major threat to pubs (and public health) is the off-trade, and the reforms wouldn't rebalance this - but would reduce powers to refuse off-trade applications.

There’s also a proposed ‘amnesty’ on licensing conditions. Conditions allow tailored controls on e.g. promotions, door staff, layout. They're fundamental to licensing practice. Sweeping deletions are unlikely to benefit well-run pubs, but could severely limit powers to regulate problem venues.

The reforms would undermine this in 2 ways:

1) Creating a ‘National Licensing Policy Framework’ to act as a centralised entity directing local decisions through 'licensing circulars'

2) Giving unelected licensing officers sweeping powers to override views of elected members.

The current system is already permissive: applications are approved unless objections are raised, and over 90% are granted. But decisions are made by elected councillors – providing accountability in principle. And they can apply conditions to mitigate risks.

The plans are based on the report of a Licensing Taskforce, co-chaired by the CEO of Greene King. While headlines are about opening hours, the actual proposals are about large-scale transfer of licensing powers and reshaping the system's core (and historical) purpose. www.gov.uk/government/p...

It was great to meet everyone. Should be a fantastic project!

Indeed - Orwellian in a different sense! Not sure I’ve come across quite such purple prose in a similar doc before. Can you think of any?

That's exactly what I thought.

Having observed the shift in youth drinking from ‘Is this a thing??’ 15 years ago, to many years of ‘I reckon it is due to x, y or z…’ It’s great hear to mature, informed consideration of the wider social realities that it reflects - even tho most (speaking as a parent of teens) are quite melancholy

Yesterday 😞 Sly Stone: A funky life - in pictures www.bbc.com/news/article...