But licensees could still be scratching their heads as mandatory code guidance notes are published
Licensees who still want to run drinks promotions are being urged to check with their council or police first that it does not fall foul of the new mandatory code of practice.
The Home Office has finally published the full guidance on the code, as the first stage takes effect today (April 6).
The 18-page guidance sets out what constitutes an “irresponsible” promotion, but later, confusingly, says the government is not banning happy hours, pub crawls or general discounting of alcohol per se. The banned list includes:
- Drinking games – any form of speed drinking game
- Large quantities of alcohol for free or at a fixed or discounted price – such as ‘all-you-can-drink for £10’
- Prizes and rewards – ‘drink four pints get the fifth free’
- Sporting events – promotions like ‘half price drinks when England score a goal’
- Posters and flyers – adverts that ‘condone, encourage or glamorise anti-social behaviour or refer to getting drunk in any positive way’
- No alcohol can be dispensed directly into the mouth eg ‘the dentist’s chair’
However, the Home Office indicates the list is not exhaustive and “substantially similar activities” are also banned.
To see the full article go to: The Puclican
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