PUB-goers’ favourite draught beers could vanish under plans to force landlords to serve zero-alcohol pints, a trade body warns.
A “nanny state” law aimed at cutting back on boozing would make it compulsory for publicans to offer at least one low or no-alcohol brew on tap.
UKHospitality fears smaller inns with fewer pumps would have to axe popular, full-strength beers to make way.
Its chief Kate Nicholls said measures discussed in Westminster would also crack down on pub meals high in fat, salt or sugar such as burgers, fish and chips and puddings.
She said there was alarm in the industry that such interference would get worse if Sir Keir Starmer becomes PM.
Ms Nicholls said: “If, as expected, we’re having a Labour government, it is more likely to have a big public health agenda coming in and is more likely to be influenced by some of the non-governmental organisations, who include the anti-alcohol lobby.
“You have got a lot of civil servants who are coming at it from a very public health, nanny state approach with a lot of proposals they have brought forward to ministers.
“That will all just re-emerge with civil servants when they get new ministers.
“They will say, ‘Here’s the bright idea we had five years ago that didn’t get taken forward – that was my pet project – please could you reconsider it?’
“And you will have quite a strong lobby from within the Labour movement.”
She told a London conference: “The last Labour government did take forward quite a lot of what would be considered nanny state measures.”
Labour was contacted for comment.