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(From Off Licence News)
In these spin-driven times it sounds surprising to say you can learn a lot about this country's politics from Number 10's official website. Forget back-slapping about the current Anglo-French love-in, the real insight lies in the Be Heard section, a virtual soapbox where Joe Public can upload a petition in the hope of gaining critical mass and political influence.
When 48,273 of the population have signed up to say Jeremy Clarkson should be prime minister, pub landlord Kert Mathew must feel deflated that only 30 people support his petition which asserts: "Fines for shop keepers selling alcohol to kids are far too low. Those convicted of selling to under-age twice should be imprisoned." He should also feel ashamed. The drinks industry spends a considerable amount of time complaining it is misunderstood by government and the media. Stunts like this prove how little it understands itself.
While the on and off-trades clearly have their nuances, some of the commercial realities are not actually that different. Rising rents, shrinking margins, dealing with under-age kids and authorities who want to trick you into selling to them. Both also serve the same customers, yet we still struggle to find any common ground.
A divided trade tells government one ...