If proposals outlined in the consultation on delivering government’s policies to cut alcohol fuelled crime and anti-social behaviour are enacted, forecourt stores licensed to sell alcohol and those seeking new licences or variations to existing licences will be impacted, licensing solicitor Robert Botkai has warned.

The government is proposing to introduce a controversial 45p per unit minimum price; a ban on multi-buy promotions; and a relaxation of the ban on alcohol at motorway service areas, but possibly excluding forecourt stores.

There is some good news regarding late night refreshment laws, with the government considering exempting certain categories of premises from the late night refreshment regime; as well as considering reducing the bureaucracy of personal licences. "We have the carrot of some reduction in red tape but in return a far more restrictive set of rules for the off trade," said Botkai.

Responses to the consultation must be made no later than February 6, 2013.