Licensees in an area of Portsmouth have made a 'voluntary agreement' not to sell drinks below £1.50 - but premises failing to adhere may expect to be called to a licensee committee review. Eleven bars in the Guildhall Walk area made the agreement at a pubwatch meeting following a spate of violence - according to a Morning Advertiser report:
“It came off the back of police cracking down on irresponsible drinks promotions,” said one licensee, who declined to be named.
“A lot of places were doing £1 drinks and doubles for ridiculous prices. We decided to be proactive and introduce a voluntary scheme.
But the local JD Wetherspoon declined to take part in the agreement, and its legality is being questioned with regard to price fixing.
The approach follows similar measures taken in Oldham last year which were reportedly successful and featured in a BBC Panaroma programme.
This year the mandatory licensing code came into force, outlawing irresponsible promotions such as 'buy one get one free'. Guidance on the code was been released by the Home Office.
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