Alcohol strategy consultation

This consultation is now closed

This consultation seeks views on a number of measures set out in the government’s alcohol strategy which was published on 23 March 2012. The consultation will run for 10 weeks from 28 November 2012 until 6 February 2013.

The majority of the people in this country enjoy a drink without causing trouble for those around them, but there is a significant minority who do not. Too many of our high streets and town centres have become no-go areas on a Friday and Saturday night because of alcohol-fuelled violent crime and antisocial behaviour.

It is responsible drinkers, businesses and the wider community who are paying the price in terms of crime and disorder on our streets, while alcohol-related injuries are clogging up our accident and emergency rooms.

The government has already legislated for a wide set of reforms to tackle binge drinking and the corrosive effect it has on individuals and our communities. But we need to continue the work to tackle the drink-fuelled antisocial behaviour and crime blighting our communities. So we are launching a 10-week consultation, seeking views on five key areas:

• a ban on multi-buy promotions in shops and off-licences to reduce excessive alcohol consumption
• a review of the mandatory licensing conditions, to ensure that they are sufficiently targeting problems such as irresponsible promotions in pubs and clubs
• health as a new alcohol licensing objective for cumulative impacts so that licensing authorities can consider alcohol-related health harms when managing the problems relating to the number of premises in their area
• cutting red tape for responsible businesses to reduce the burden of regulation while maintaining the integrity of the licensing system
• minimum unit pricing, ensuring for the first time that alcohol can only be sold at a sensible and appropriate price

These topics have been brought together into one consultation to minimise the burden on respondents. A glossary has been provided in the full consultation document to assist respondents with the more technical terms that relate to the licensing regime.

To support the consultation process, a series of meetings and events will be held with representatives of our key partners. Some of these meetings will focus on more technical matters to support the policy development process.

This is not about stopping the sensible, responsible drinking which supports pubs as part of the community fabric, creates thriving town centres, and provides employment and growth. The measures in our consultation are targeted explicitly at reducing harmful drinking, and we welcome your views on how we can jointly end the culture of excessive drinking that causes so much damage to our society.

More information about the policy context of these proposals is set out in the alcohol strategy, which should be read alongside the online form. More information is available in the full consultation document and the impact assessments related to the individual proposals.