Pubs to fight £250m ban on patio heaters

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Title – Pubs to fight £250m ban on patio heaters
Source – The Metro
Date – 31st January 2008

So now that the licensed retail sector has been blamed for almost every woe in the country, it is now receiving the blame for climate change….

You have to worry sometimes what will be next, MPs and MEPs blaming pubs and clubs for the destruction of the rain forests because of their use of toothpicks? Climate change has been acknowledged as one of the world’s greatest dangers and should be a priority for our governments to tackle; we all know that if even George Bush acknowledges it as a problem then we can guarantee that it is a real threat… but patio heaters… honestly….?

Surely MEPs have something better to do, like tackling the real reasons for climate change and the industries that actually contribute substantially to global warming. Reports like this actually have the opposite effect, people know that banning patio heaters can’t save the planet. Obviously every little bit helps and if there is a way we can reduce the effects of CO2 emissions we should look at it, but tackle the big issues first before alienating everyone and turning what has become a popular willingness to change our lifestyles to protect our planet, into one that people resent and start to rebel against.

If MPs could change their vocabulary and stop using words like 'ban' they might also get a better response from those people affected by their comments. Smokers are not the only people who benefit from patio heaters, we all like the fresh air sometimes and in our country that means having some form of outside heater for many months of the year. Is the solution simply a ban, is that really all the 'great and good' that we elect can come up with?

We pay tax, that tax helps pay for the governance of our country and the people we elect to run it, when will they learn that their job is to come up with solutions. The word ‘solution’ does not mean ‘dictatorship’, ‘ban’, ‘censorship’, ‘restriction’ etc; it means if patio heaters really are a tiny part of the problem we as concerned citizens will choose to act, those working in the licensed retail trade are as concerned about climate change as anyone. But don’t just ban patio heaters, provide a solution or alternative or at least find a way for people (our customers) not to lose all their creature comforts.

Televisions use vast amounts of electricity, are these the next to be banned? Obviously not, after all if they are how are our politicians going to preach at us? Would people object if televisions were manufactured without standby buttons so you were forced to switch them off after use rather than have them drain electricity when on standby? Probably not.
My message to our government; we want positive action on climate change, but if you really believe that banning patio heaters is the solution you really have not for one second understood the actual problem. Maybe you could turn off some of the lights in your mansions, cycle rather than use the Jag, holiday closer to home, scrap parliament and the lords (turning the lights out as you leave for the smaller offices required by a dictatorship) and stop spouting so much hot air yourselves.

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MP calls for smaller wine glasses

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Title - MP calls for smaller wine glasses
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 30th January 2008

This does seem to be yet another step too far and a fundamental misunderstanding of how to the problem of excess alcohol consumption. With an industry already reeling under the heavy burden of legislation it seems a very poor way to try and tackle problems that occur generally in society, by once again specifically targeting the licensed retail sector.

Society has changed over the last twenty years, the licensed retail sector has had to follow to keep up and the consumption of wine that has rocketed in this time is just one example of that change. Does this MP really believe that people sit at home and still drink out of 125ml glasses and only on special occasions? That is just simply unrealistic and doesn’t happen. I would suggest that he visits any retailer, which will prove that people do not drink wine in these measures any more. Visit IKEA and see how many of their prolific choice of wine glasses measure 125ml; there will be very few. Are we suggesting IKEA should be banned from selling anything but 125ml glasses so that people can protect themselves from excess consumption at home (where the majority of wine is drunk)?

That there is a problem generally in society with excessive alcohol consumption is one thing and the figures speak for themselves, but if the best that an MP can come up with to solve the problem is to enforce the sale of wine in pubs only in 125ml glasses, then really we are electing the wrong people.

There can only be one realistic solution in a free society and that is to make people aware of the facts and let them choose for themselves. Certainly wine consumption in larger glasses may, by many, be misunderstood with regard to the number of units they are consuming, but the answer is simply to make them aware, provide them with the true facts, let them make their own decisions and help them to understand the health risks and the results of their alcohol consumption. A more open, transparent and honest licensed sector can be part of the solution, but if MP’s are going to continue to promote a blame culture where the licensed retail sector is portrayed as the devil, then the mistrust that many people already have of government is going to stall and potentially ruin any chance they ever had of gaining positive co-operation.
My message to MP’s is simple. Stop trying to legislate at every opportunity to divert the blame from the real problem and look for positive partnerships and please think of the bigger picture. Is the size of a wine glass the most important thing you have to consider and do you really believe that this can in anyway solve the bigger problems in our society?

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Alcohol Units Guide

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Title – Alcohol Units Guide
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 22nd January 2008

The Licensed Retail Sector has changed since the original standard units were introduced and the customers outlets are competing for have changed, but customers are still working on the old unit system. This is in part responsible for the growing numbers of people drinking to excess.

Products sold in the sector are now sold in bigger sizes and stronger ABV’s, we need to ensure that customers are made aware of this so that they can continue to make informed decisions for themselves rather then being dictated to.

A responsible licensed retail sector is not one that dictates, but rather one that informs and guides with the pricing structures and control measures in place to protect those customers who appreciate this responsible alcohol consumption, from those people who will ruin other customer’s enjoyment by their excesses.

The changes need to happen industry wide, it will make the sector less volatile and reduce overheads such as security costs and damage repair, not to mention bring people in who currently don’t use licensed retail facilities because of the binge drinking culture.

Our portfolio of BIIAB Courses can help businesses and organisations develop their employees and business in a responsible and professional manner.

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Pub chain limits parents’ drinks

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Title – Pub chain limits parents’ drinks
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 4th January 2008

This seems to be a perfect example of how a company policy can be misunderstood, misrepresented and misinterpreted and the actions of an employee or manager can be blown out of proportion. Employees are often put under pressure to provide a reason for their decisions and they should provide one, but they have to get it right first time and be honest. Telling a customer that they have to leave after 2 drinks to prevent “cruelty to children” effectively says; “to stop you being cruel to your children” implying that the parent is irresponsible. Is it any surprise that when told it is a company policy the customer went straight to the press? The “nanny state” is one thing, but when pub chains join in at this level, people will react badly.

So what was JD Wetherspoon trying to do? Follow the licensing objective “protection of children from harm”? Are they taking it too literally? The legislation is there for a reason, but not for licenses to dictate how parents behave.

But JD Wetherspoon should be applauded for taking a lead in responsible alcohol retailing rather then being chastised. It does sometimes feel like the Licensed Retail Sector is blamed when it doesn’t act and blamed when it does. The policy may be well thought out, but maybe in this one instance not well executed. But like a goal keeper, one mistake can affect the whole team, good training can make all the difference.

JD Wetherspoon posted this response to the news article on their website.
Basically, if parents are accompanied by their children when they visit our pubs we have a responsibility as a pub company to ensure that this is handled in a professional manner and in a way that is in keeping with our duty of care to our customers.

Below are the guidelines by which our pubs address the issue of children in our pubs:

• Adults that are accompanied with children wishing to purchase an alcoholic drink should purchase a meal


• Once the meal has been finished and tables cleared it is our recommendation that only one more alcoholic drink should be purchased for each adult

If parents and their children are visiting our pubs and purchasing non-alcoholic drinks, then there is no limit to the number of drinks that can be purchased or the length of stay at the pub.

In all situations it is important that our Pub Managers assesses the behaviour and attitude of the parents as well as the interests of other customers to ensure the situation is handled in a suitable manner.As a company we do not want to restrict families visiting our pubs, if fact, we actively encourage families and have recently won an award for our children's menu.

Please visit our website at www.btbl.co.uk