Litten Tree licence extension opposed by NHS Coventry...

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A popular pub in Coventry city centre plans to start serving booze at breakfast – despite fears from health experts that it would encourage binge drinking.



The Litten Tree in Warwick Row wants its licence extended so it can sell alcohol from 7am every day.

That means the pub would be allowed to serve punters for 19 hours each day, seven days a week.

But NHS Coventry has lodged an objection to the plan.

Health experts are concerned that serving alcohol so early in the morning could encourage binge drinking, which, they say, is already a major cause of violent crime, injuries and deadly illness in the city.

Litten Tree licensee Chris Lewis said the pub was not going after the “clubbing” crowd who wanted to carry on drinking after a night out.

He said the pub attracted a lot of passengers from Coventry Station and many night shift workers.

“For them 7am is our 6pm, they just want to relax and enjoy a quiet drink after work,” he said.

Mr Lewis said the pub supported NHS messages on responsible drinking and would offer early morning customers a free “mini meal” with each alcoholic beverage so they were eating as well as drinking.

NHS Coventry has already opposed several applications to open takeaways near schools to fight obesity.

It has also been given new powers to advise the city council on alcohol licensing applications.

The local alcohol profile for Coventry shows the city has substantially more alcohol-related deaths and hospital admissions than both the regional and national average.

Official figures show that alcohol contributes to more than 350 deaths and thousands of hospital admissions in the city every year.

Angela Hands, public health practitioner at NHS Coventry, said binge drinking accounted for half of all the alcohol consumed in England.

It provokes crime and violence that drains hospital resources, causes mayhem on the streets and spreads fear in communities, she said.

As a result NHS Coventry believes the Litten Tree should have to display the government’s recommended daily limits on alcohol consumption prominently throughout the pub before its licence can be extended.

The licensing hearing at the city council will be held on Thursday morning.

Later that day city planners will also decide whether to allow the Litten Tree to place tables and chairs on the pavement outside the pub.

Planning officers recommend the plan should be approved as they do not feel it will cause substantial disruption for disabled people using the pavement.

However, two nearby businesses have lodged objections.

Debbie Bannigan, chief executive of Rugby-based alcohol misuse charity Swanswell, said: “Any business selling alcohol has a responsibility towards their customers and it is an offence to sell alcohol to someone who is drunk.

“But Swanswell believes there needs to be a wider change to alcohol policy from government level with clear, independent alcohol advice available for customers at the point of sale, so they can make their own informed decision about their alcohol use.”

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Litten Tree pub to serve booze at breakfast after agreement with NHS

COVENTRY pub the Litten Tree will be allowed to serve booze at breakfast after reaching an agreement with NHS chiefs.

The city centre pub's bid to serve alcohol from 7am every day initially faced stern opposition from public health experts at NHS Coventry.

They had raised concerns that it could encourage binge drinking.

Now the popular pub in Warwick Row has been granted an extended licence after agreeing to the conditions demanded by the NHS.

The Litten Tree has promised to display two A4 posters in prominent position, which advertise the government safe drinking guidelines.

Licensee Chris Lewis told the Telegraph the pub supported the NHS messages on responsible drinking.

He said the pub was not going after the clubbing crowd who wanted to continue drinking after a night out.

Instead opening early would allow it to cater for passengers from Coventry Station and regular customers who worked night shifts, he said.

The agreement between the pub and the NHS means tomorrow’s licensing hearing has been cancelled.

However, health chiefs are likely to play a prominent role in planning and licensing decisions in future.

NHS Coventry has already objected to plans to open takeaways near schools to combat obesity.

It was also given new powers to make official representations on alcohol licensing hearings in April. The new local alcohol profiles, released last week, show Coventry has a significant problem with alcohol.

Heavy drinking contributes to more than 350 deaths and thousands of hospital admissions each year.

The government’s responsible drinking guidelines state women should limit themselves to two-three units of alcohol each day, while men should not exceed three-four units. No-one should drink on more than five days per week, they warn.

Those guidelines will now be clearly displayed in the Litten Tree.

However, Coun Jim O’Boyle, who chairs the city’s health and wellbeing board, is more concerned about shops selling cheap alcohol than pubs run by responsible landlords.

“Pubs are part of the fabric of our nation,” he said.

“I would like to see more of a crackdown on corner shops, where strong, cheap alcohol is easily available.

“In Hillfields there aren’t many pubs, but we have a problem with people drinking on the streets.”

This is also a concern for Rugby- based alcohol charity Swanswell.

Chief executive Debbie Bannigan said: “More people are drinking at home because drinks are cheaper in supermarkets or other off-licences than they are in pubs and bars.”