TAVISTOCK publican Alan Jones has been voted chairman of the Tavistock and District Licensed Trade Association for the third time in 19 years. Alan is the publican of the Cornish Arms and a Fellow of the British Institute of Inn Keeping. He was elected at the recent annual meeting of the association at the Trout and Tipple. Alan said this year was going to be ?stressful, costly and, most of all, confusing for pub landlords and the public alike?. He said there were 20 forms to complete under the new Licensing Act 2003,which comes into effect on November 7. They had to be copied six times and sent to various agencies. He said each premises had to have a designated named premises supervisor who was responsible for sales of alcohol, in addition to the licensees. Alan is attending various seminars and committees dealing with the new act and other problems in the town relating to drinking. ?Members of the licensing association are totally aware of their responsibility in respect of any new drinking hours that may be requested and the public should have very little fear of any increase in violence in a town ? it has very little compared to other towns and major cities,? Alan said.
