Last week (9/2/2010) saw the launch of The National Licensed Trade Association, a body intending to tackle binge drinking and alcohol abuse by working with licensed premises.

Part of the strategy will be a staff training initiative called the National Licensed Trade Scheme – this will be provided by Barcode UK, and will be free to bartenders. Other partners of the NLTA include the NHS, ambulance service, police and Alcohol Concern. The association also has cross-party support. It is chaired and launched by Helen Newlove (pictured), whose husband was killed by drunken youths two years ago.

While the NLTA has support from the industry, it isn’t funded by it. It is initially being funded by private donations, with plans to eventually be self-funding. Visit the NLTA website for more information.

News item from Imbibe.com, 12-02-2010