New measures for tackling the problem of alcohol related violence are currently being trailed in 9 Liverpool bars. The initiative – which has been strongly backed by Liverpool County Council since being approached by Licence Watch with the idea – sees door supervisors wearing tiny wearable cameras that can record images and sound.

According to Gideon Ben-Tovim, chairman of Liverpool Primary Care Trust, as many as 70% of all recorded accident and emergency admissions during weekends are alcohol related and asserted the consistently high levels of binge drinking in the city – which is, to some extent, a reflection on nationwide levels.

The scheme makes a clear statement to those who a prone towards aggressive behaviour during nights out in the city centres, as the recording equipment can capture and document clear evidence in the event of a crime, which door supervisors are often witness to.

Strict regulatory measures are in place which will ensure that only Merseyside Police and Security firm will have access to captured footage. Should the initiative be extended to more popular nightclubs and bars in Liverpool – or indeed other cities with high levels of alcohol related violence – this could see a definite increase of convictions as the result of incriminating evidence caught on such devices.

So far so good for Liverpool authorities as evidence from the bars where the cams have been trialled over the past few weeks, have shown that they do indeed discourage incidents of aggression in door queues.

Commenting on the effect of such campaigns, Ben-Tovim further concluded that:

“These initiatives are not about preventing people from drinking but are about ensuring people across the city can enjoy alcohol in a responsible way that does not impact on themselves or other residents.”

The government is proposing that small venues such as pubs and wine bars be free to put on live music without a licence, in response to criticism that heavy-handed bureaucracy is damaging the live music scene.

For the first time since the Licensing Act came into power in 2003, venues with a 100-person capacity or under will be able to put on live music without a licence if the proposal successfully navigates a 12-week public consultation.

Under the act every venue that puts on live music, from large concert halls to restaurants employing a pianist, must go through a licensing process many regard as expensive and over-complicated.

John Whittingdale, chairman of the culture, media and sport select committee, called the proposals a “step in the right direction” but said they did not go far enough.

A report by the select committee in May said the 2003 act had been an overall success but that “absurd” licensing laws were damaging the live music scene.

“We have already had consultations; this has been debated interminably,” Whittingdale said yesterday. “Our recommendation was for venues of up to 200 people to be exempted and in our view the evidence for the exemption is clear and should be acted upon immediately.”

The government’s new proposal would go further than reintroducing the “two in a bar” exemption – which was in place before the 2003 act – which allowed non-amplified music by one or two musicians in a venue of any size. The new proposal, due to be debated in Westminster, would allow bands of any number to play amplified music in small venues, a government source said.

Some will be dissatisfied that the government’s new proposal does not go far enough to solve the 2003 act’s problems, while other groups, such as local councils and police forces, who have been vehemently opposed to any exemptions to the act, are likely to be critical. The licensing minister, Gerry Sutcliffe, is expected to say there are already sufficient measures in place to deal with noise and anti-social behaviour, but the government will prevent problematic venues from holding gigs if there are complaints made against them. How this would be put into practice remains unclear.

Sutcliffe is not expected to mention form 696, which MPs and campaigners want scrapped, arguing that it is “potentially racist”. The Metropolitan police recently changed the form, which previously requested details of the ethnic groups likely to attend a gig and the type of music being performed, to shift the target to promoted late-night events that feature MCs and DJs, rather than live music.

Even with the changes, Whittingdale said the form was “unnecessary”, adding that sectors of the industry believed it unfairly targeted certain types of black music.

Speaking before the review announcement, Horace Trubridge, assistant general secretary of the Musicians’ Union, said smaller venues had seen a marked drop in business because of the act and artists were becoming impatient. “Consultations are a great way of deferring a decision, and it is a shame that nobody in government has been brave enough to say ‘Come on, let’s try it’, even if it had to be revised later down the line,” he said.

The proposed exemption – which will not include venues with DJs – is expected to take “a few months”, but ministers are confident it will be “tight but possible” to do it quickly.

That timescale is likely to be met with cynicism from campaigners, who have already taken part in six years of legislation, eight consultations, two government research projects, two national review processes and a parliamentary select committee report, according to UK Music.

A licensee and her chef have been hailed as heroes by the ambulance service after helping save an 81-year-old woman from choking to death.

Marie Vaillant and chef Patrick Beck, of the Griffin Hotel, Toddington, Bedfordshire worked together to remove a piece a gammon which had become lodged in the woman’s throat.

Patrick performed the Heimlich manoeuvre on the customer 10 times, until eventually Marie lifted out the two centimetre piece of meat.

Marie, a tenant at the Greene King pub, said: “It was really lucky that Patrick was here. He just jumped in and used his first aid skills to save the woman.
“She was quite frail, and had turned blue from lack of oxygen, so we had to be careful not to bruise her.”

Marie, who is also trained in first aid, added: “The ambulance service came within five minutes, I was really impressed. But luckily the woman did not even have to go to hospital. She was quite embarrassed though.”
Just two days after the incident Marie and Patrick both received commendations from the ambulance service for their actions.

Gary Sanderson, a spokesman for the ambulance service, said: “The quick thinking and rapid interventions by Marie and Patrick has no doubt saved this woman’s life. They must be very proud of themselves – well done.”

Source: The Publican

Suzi Says…

There is no doubt about it, First Aiders save lives. As this story prooves, it’s not just Fonr-of-House staff that it is important to train. Any employees can be called upon to help a customer with any number of problems.

Ensure that your staff are ready, trained and confident in what to do. Call us for First Aid training 020 7237 6007.

This is not the sort of headline you read everyday, but it just goes to show how important it is to be fully licensed when supplying alcohol.

Winchester Cathedral is seeking a new premises licence to allow the sale of alcohol in church.

The council’s licensing committee are meeting consider the application which consolidates two existing alcohol licences for the building and its grounds.

But local businessman Martin Wilson, has voiced his opposition, linking the licence application to anti-social behaviour.
 
In a letter to the council, Mr Wilson said: “Despite regular reporting of anti-social behaviour and unregulated drinking to the police, it seems their already stretched resources prohibit intervention, the cathedral regularly posts a member of their security team to the area, who I have not once seen intervene to limit anti-social behaviour. ”

He added: “To open the area to a licence will seek to encourage the unregulated consumption of alcohol in what is central to the Alcohol Exclusion Zone.”

The cathedral say the licence is required to allow the holding events such as the Food and Wine Show.

No matter where the alcohol licence is for, it is essential that you are always fully licensed to retail it.

Here at beSmart we offer all the training required to become a designated premise supervisor, responsible acohol retailer and personal licence holder.

For information on our courses please visit the beSmart website.

A pub where free drinks were handed out to customers has been closed down.

The pub in Devon where bout 20 “intoxicated” people were present was shut on Friday night by the police, due to concerns about disorder and public safety.

A notice was served last month on the premises banning the sale of alcohol until certain conditions were met.

Since then police officers and council enforcement staff have been reviewing allegations of breaches of the order.

It is the first time police in mid Devon have used their powers under Section 161 of the Licensing Act 2003.

The pub closure order has been extended until the police can take the matter to magistrates.

A police spokesman said it was a “highly unusual action” and demonstrated a willingness to ensure licensed premises were well-managed and safe places for the public.

Here at beSmart we offer a range of alcohol licensing courses including Responsible Alcohol Retailing, Designated Premises Supervisor and many more related courses.

For further information please visit the beSmart Training website.