Thirteen agree to new drinking rules

THIRTEEN town centre pubs and clubs have agreed to strict conditions attached to their licences in a Trading Standards crackdown on irresponsible drinks promotions.

They include a post-office style queuing system, limiting the number of drinks sold to two at a time, a ban on drinking games and tough rules for “drink all you can for a fixed fee” sessions.

The move is in response to calls to curb alcohol fuelled anti-social behaviour, and agreements with more pubs are expected to follow soon.

Oldham Licensing Panel yesterday backed a raft of conditions which have now been attached to the licenses of the following town centre pubs and clubs: JD Weatherspoon’s Up Steps Inn, High Street, and The Squire Knott, Yorkshire Street; Maloney’s, Blu 62, The Old Bank (formerly Cuba Cuba), Last Orders, Pickwicks, and Number 15, all in Yorkshire Street; Liquid and Envy, Waterloo Street; Buck and Union, and The Lounge, both in Union Street; Aruba and Escoba, both in Fairbottom Street.

John Garforth, principal licensing officer, told the panel the conditions all related to putting the brakes on drinking promotions which tended to encourage alcohol misuse, particularly among young people, which affects health, and results in increased crime and disorder across the town.

The raft of conditions included putting an end to “drinking games,” where customers are encouraged or rewarded for speed drinking, or consuming large quantities of alcohol in a single session.

Premises where drinks promotions are allowed, which include Blu 2 and The Lounge, have agreed to operate a post-office style queuing system.

The queues will be marshalled to keep people back from the bar, limit sales to two drinks per person, and prevent alcohol being drunk in the queue. Any such drinks promotions must be reported to police and licensing officers well in advance.

The range of conditions also involve a joint assessment between the licensee and the council on promotions which involve the sale of alcohol at less than 75p per unit, (about half a pint of beer) and employing extra door staff.

In all, 22 town centre pubs and clubs have been or are still in negotiations with Trading Standards to agree conditions to their trading licences.

Earlier this month, the Old Mess House pub, in Yorkshire Street, won its battle to stop conditions being placed on its licence after the panel found no evidence of irresponsible drinks promotions taking place there.