Pubs across the UK are facing pressure to ban standing while ordering and drinking, as councils push for sit-down-only venues to curb excessive drinking. The move has sparked anger from campaigners who say it undermines traditional pub culture.
Councils behind the crackdown
Local authorities, including Westminster City Council, Reading, and Stockton-on-Tees, are advising landlords that making venues sitting-room only increases their chances of obtaining licenses. Westminster, which oversees iconic areas like Soho and the West End, has included the encouragement in its licensing policy.
Reading Council's licensing policy states a desire to move away from “alcohol-led vertical drinking establishments” to “discourage drunkenness.” Stockton-on-Tees officials admit that venues allowing vertical drinking will be scrutinised “particularly closely.”
Campaigners and landlords react
Ellie Eames, of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), labelled the shift as “absurd.” She said: “Licensees are in a position to judge what’s best for both their business, staff and customers. It’s always been part of British culture to order pints at the bar without the requirement to remain seated. How else are consumers meant to make the most of wellbeing benefits pubs offer with a ‘vertical drinking’ ban?”
Landlord Colin Taylor, who runs the independent Toucan pub in Soho, told the Daily Star: “The council’s proposal goes against everything a pub should be. We have lots of people standing outside our bar during opening hours and so [any change] would damage our business to a great extent.”
Westminster's policy details
Westminster's licensing policy, currently out for consultation, states: “Discourage excessive drunkenness and encourage the provision of more seating in premises that serve alcohol for people to sit and enjoy a drink and order food by table service in place of open bar space that caters for high volume vertical drinking.” It includes limiting sales of booze and food to “waiter or waitress service only.”
Political backlash
London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan branded the proposals as “restrictive and anti-growth policies.” Labour MP Dawn Butler posted: “This isn’t a draft policy, it’s a DAFT policy. Trying to stop people standing at the bar? London’s nightlife needs support, not more restrictions.”
Westminster Council deputy leader Tim Barnes defended the council’s position, claiming many facts were being taken “out of context.” He insisted it was “utterly ludicrous” to suggest the authority is “planning to ‘ban’ people standing up in pubs.”
Barnes said: “We want people to go out in the West End and have a good time. Our guidance is simply about encouraging venues to manage their customers so people don’t pack onto pavements or excessive drinking doesn’t disturb others passing by. We are the country's largest planning authority with some 4,000 licensed venues. We reject less than 1.5% of license applications and there is a strong desire to see thriving, profitable, venues across Westminster. As we have made clear we are happy to work with the Mayor of London on licensing and have just launched our own campaign to promote nights out in Soho.”
