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New plans for alcohol licensing announced by coalition
Thu 20 May 2010
A raft of new proposals by the coalition government may see changes introduced to the current licensing laws.
Some of the plans that have been outlined by the new government include:
Banning the sale of alcohol at below cost price.
Reviewing the rules on taxing alcohol with a stated aim of "targeting binge drinkers without penalising sensible drinkers, pubs and important local industries".
Greater powers for local authorities and the police to remove licences from or refuse to grant licences to any premises that are "causing problems".
Greater powers to allow local authorities and the police to "shut down permanently" any shop or bar found to be persistently selling alcohol to children.
Increased fees for late night venues.
The news coincides with a statement from the new Home Secretary, Theresa May, that there are proposals to revise 24-hour drinking laws.
In her first speech in the role, Ms May stated that round-the-clock licensing had resulted in a culture of violence and binge drinking.
Robert Botkai, head of Property and Licensing at law firm Winckworth Sherwood, commented: "These proposals are a bit of a mess and appear to have been written on the back of an envelope by someone who has little or no knowledge of the existing licensing laws. How do you tax alcohol so that it only impacts on binge drinkers? Who are the "important local industries"? The cider manufacturers of Somerset who objected to proposed duty increases on cider not so long ago?
"The police already have closure powers and licences that are causing problems can be suspended or revoked. There are procedures in place already.
"As for increased fees, perhaps it has been forgotten that the fee for a new licence was increased by a multiple in excess of 30 for many operators when the Licensing Act 2003 came into force. A licence previously cost £30 for three years. Licences now cost between £100-£635 and then an annual fee of between £70 and £350. There is a further multiplier for large venues used primarily for the sale of alcohol. As for 24-hour drinking laws, when did you last see a 24-hour pub? The licensed trade is an easy target for a new government.
"Hopefully the proposals will make more sense when the detail is considered."
