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Health

Bars could face happy hours curbs, bans on free alcohol

12/10/2008

Bars could be banned from serving women free drinks and face curbs on happy hours under new draft rules being considered by the government.

The home office and department of health are currently conducting a public consultation looking into possible measures to promote safer, more sensible drinking.

Besides proposed restrictions on the way alcohol is provided, there may also be orders to sell wine in glass with marked measures.

Mark Hastings, a spokesman for the British Beer and Pub Association criticised the move, saying it would further harm the industry in difficult economic times.

"With the prime minister and the chancellor busy trying to frenetically resurrect the UK economy it seems perverse that the Department of Health and Home Office seem intent on burying businesses beneath a blizzard of red tape," he said.

"At a time when the economy and business is under severe pressure it's government's role to support business not send in a wrecking crew with the ball and chain of further regulation. Government needs to wake up to the fact that five pubs a day are closing in Britain."

A spokesman for the home office stressed that the public consultation was ongoing and that the draft proposals were not yet government policy.