AS the new Licensing Act comes into force this week, local publicans have hit back at national media reports forecasting a sudden onslaught of drunken mayhem. Former LVA (Licensed Victuallers' Association) chairman Hugh Donnachie said local landlords run a tight ship and that, unlike some cities, Alton does not have a drink-related problem and nor is it likely to have because the business will not allow it. Police and publicans, it seems, are on the same side. According to Alton's Inspector Tony Tipping, he has a good working relationship with the local licensees. If there is wind of trouble he has a quiet word and they respond well to requests, he said. Furthermore, new powers of closure, brought in under the Licensing Act 2003, mean that he, as an Inspector, can implement on-the- spot closure and then apply for a licence review. The closure could be related, for example, to disorder within the premises itself, within the vicinity and/or related to the pub, to noise pollution or to the sale of alcohol to underage drinkers. He further confirmed that while sceptical over licence extensions granted by the magistrates in 2004, his premonitions of doom did not happen. And of this year's change in the law, he pointed out that not one local premises has applied for 24-hour opening and he is confident that any extended hours will be well managed by publicans keen to keep their licenses. Inspector Tipping believes local publicans have done a good job over the past few years by monitoring their own business, with the help of the police, through the LVA and Pub Watch. The key, he said, is for bar staff to keep a tight rein on sales, by refusing to sell drink to people who are underage or who have already had too much. His one concern is that while the government felt that the opening up of licensing hours would stagger leaving time, in a small town like Alton this is unlikely to happen. While Minnesotas had requested an extension of opening until 3 am, the other pubs have asked for a one or two-hour extension which they are expected to use on Friday and Saturday nights or for special occasions only. "In that respect the government has fallen on its face, in Alton the pubs will still close at the same time," he said. As three times chairman of the Alton LVA and having served 10 years as chairman of the Southern Region British Institute of Inn Keepers, retired publican Hugh Donnachie is anxious that Alton pubs should not be tarred with the same brush as some of the city theme houses where managers are constantly pushed to increase sales regardless of the cost to the local community. Last year, when four pubs in the town applied to extend their licenses to bring them in line with the newly opened Wey Bridge, there had been fears expressed that it would result in an increase in drink-related problems in Alton. "In the event people were proved completely wrong. Of course you get high spiritedness, especially among young people, but the mayhem and drunkenness expected did not come about – that's due to the way in which the licensees in this town run their houses," said Mr Donnachie. "Binge drinking and drunkenness normally takes place in high streets where there are themed houses that are pushing people to drink more and not complying with the responsible drinks initiative promoted by the industry. We only have one themed house in Alton and that is particularly well run, so the problem doesn't arise. "Most pubs in Alton are quite small and run hands-on by licensees who know the local community and know their customers. The last thing they want to allow in their public houses is underage drinking or drunkenness." Like Inspector Tipping, Hugh Donnachie highlighted the value of the Pub Watch scheme which has been so successful over the years that it is now rarely used. Customers, he said, had come to understand that if they were barred under the Pub Watch scheme they would not only suffer the embarrassment of being ostracised but would be unable to get a drink anywhere in the town. He drew attention to a recent survey, carried out by The Morning Advertiser, a respected trade magazine, which concluded that the reason people go to pubs is, firstly, to meet friends, secondly for the social ambience and, thirdly, as a venue for parties. The drink aspect actually comes a lowly fourth. "At the end of the day we, as publicans, are all retailers who have to earn a living," said Mr Donnachie. "This is a learning curve - we have never had late night opening hours, other than on special occasions, and we are not going to open longer on a regular basis than is good for the community and for the licensing trade." Inspector Tipping's real concern is underage drinking. "Some evenings my officers tip away gallons of drink and seize hundreds of bottles," said the Inspector who believes that most of the alcohol is coming from shops, supermarkets or off-licenses. "Anyone caught selling alcohol to underage drinkers should know that I will go after their licence with a vengeance."
