Best Bar None - the UK's national awards scheme for best practice in the licensed trade

Organised jointly by The Home Office, the Association of Town Centre Management, Best Bar None, and the Wine and Spirit Trade Association the Is Big Society a Partnership? Alcohol, Partnership and Evidence Conference held yesterday, 15^th March 2011, at the QEII Conference Centre, Westminster, London, saw industry heavy weights take on some of the hottest questions around alcohol in the community.

Sponsored by Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands, Diageo GB, JD Wetherspoon and Molson Coors, the event provided delegates with the most up to date picture of Government thinking and key players in the industry shared their reactions to the latest challenges the trade faces.

Opened by David Oliver, Head of Drugs and Alcohol, The Home Office, attendees heard that in his new post David Oliver will be ‘getting out into the industry’ to hear directly from retailers, partner organisations and public sector bodies to see how we can work together on the areas that need addressing, and vowed to continue to support the ‘freedom from fear’ ethos stating that staff retailing in the trade ‘deserve to work in a safe environment’.

The high profile line up included a well received insight into alcohol related health issues from Adrian Boyle, Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Addenbrookes Hospital - Cambridge, Honorary Research Fellow at Cambridge University & Chair of the College of Emergency Medicine's Best Practice Committee. Adrian shared evidence of the value of Community Safety Partnerships in tackling alcohol related health issues, citing a 30% decrease in the number of people requiring treatment related to alcohol related health issues, and a 20% decrease in the number of city centre assaults in Cambridge since their CSP was established.

Scott Wilson, Molson Coors pledged his support to Best Bar None and Vicki Nobles, Diageo GB addressed the Big Society debate stating that the development of Big Society agenda recognises that the government can’t do everything and that action on the problems needs to addressed jointly and that a partnership approach is the way forward.

 During the lively seminar sessions Matt Hennessy, spoke of the Department for Health’s national support for local alcohol action, Zoe Dayan, BIS discussed the government approach to deregulation and Phillip Kolvin top QC offered insights on new licensing proposals.

 Neil Robertson provided evidence of Best Bar None’s impact and announced he was close to a deal with four major products to extend Best Bar None’s reach.

 Tim Martin closed the event with a humorous, hard hitting and authoritative analysis of the net impact of government activities on the trade. He argued that for every £1 profit he hands over £10 in tax.

 “The conference has been very informative. Lesley Pulman gave a very hard hitting presentation on a victims perspective” Emilia Matheou, Technical Officer, West Berkshire Council

 “Timely conference with so many pressing issues in the industry. It has been very useful with good topical areas covered” Sylvia Manser, CEO, Nottingham Leisure Partnership Ltd

 The delegation of over 200 included key players from the police, health authorities, local government officials, senior drinks companies executives, night time economy managers, Quango leads and licensees.