Yellow cards may shame bad pubs

PROBLEM pubs could be made to display a yellow cards as a part of a naming and shaming crackdown by the Government.

Landlords reported for a licence review could be forced the display the card in their window, which would send out a message to the public, ministers say.

The Government believes the message would be highly visible and send a message to the alcohol retailer and the public, it said in a letter to councils.

Other measures in the crackdown could see CCTV capturing every alcoholic drink being sold, bar staff having to be over 25, and doormen employed to ensure a safe and calm atmosphere.

Licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe said: “Enforcement agencies would be encouraged to seek reviews when intelligence suggests premises are selling to children, causing crime problems or noise nuisance.”

Last year alone 1,000 pubs were reported to licensing authorities. Of those 160 lost their licences.

Oldham West MP Michael Meacher said: “I am sympathetic to the idea.

“There are some problem pubs but they are in the minority. It is unfair that they all get tarnished with the same brush.

“There are pubs that have repeated episodes of violent behaviour and it is right that there should be a clear warning about what will happen if they continue.

“Excessive drinking can lead to violence and crime and we all have a responsibility to reduce it, so warnings should be given.

“If pubs who are given warnings fail to improve standards they must deal with the consequences.”

Kate Nicholls of the Licensed Retailers’ Association, which represents 15,000 independent pubs said the licence review system was already working well.

If negative cards were being suggested, there should be a positive counterpart, she argued.

She added: “There needs to be a green card for good licences. There is far too much emphasis on the negative.

“The Government wrote to local authorities but said nothing to the pub trade.”