Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, said:

“Today’s announcement from Government around banning people from pubs raises serious concerns for our sector. While we fully recognise the intent behind these measures, they cannot simply be imposed on a whim. For this to be effective and fair, it must come with the appropriate infrastructure, funding and policing to support implementation.

Pubs and venues are already under enormous pressure, and adding further responsibilities without clear resource and planning will create significant risks for businesses and staff. This type of approach is usually managed locally through town centre banning systems, where partnerships with police, local authorities and operators are carefully coordinated.

If Government intends to roll this out nationally, there are considerable considerations that must be addressed. It is vital that the industry is at the table to co-design how such a scheme operates, ensuring it is practical, properly resourced and does not unfairly burden venues that are already struggling to survive.”