Licensing laws

By LBV

17 Mar 2010

The Home Office has now published one of the most important documents in recent times to affect those in the licensed trade.

The Mandatory Licensing Conditions are currently in a draft form, although three are due to come into force in April and a further two in October this year.

Whilst only five conditions appear in the draft Statutory Instrument, which will bring the conditions into force, the Government have the power to introduce nine, so these conditions could well be added to as well as amended.

In short, the Code will:
• require licensees to provide free tap water
• require licensees to have an age verification policy at the premises, requiring proof of age to be produced by anyone who appears to be under 18 (or older in certain cases)
• ban “irresponsible” drinks promotions such as, for example, providing free or discounted alcohol in connection with the outcome of a sporting event
• ban alcohol being dispensed directly into customers mouth, i.e. “the dentist’s chair”
• require licensees to make smaller measures of alcoholic drinks available

Breach of the above would carry a maximum punishment of up to six months in jail and / or up to a £20,000 fine.

The proposals seem to have been met with mixed responses. They have been watered down when compared to previous versions, so some are seeing these as a hit they are willing to take.

Some groups, including Noctis, a body which represents those involved in the night-time economy, have been quoted as saying that the Code is entirely disproportionate.

Detractors cite the example of a potential six month jail term for somebody who refuses a free glass of tap water to a customer.

The British Beer and Pub Association have also criticised the draft conditions for focussing too much on the on-trade.

Personally, I believe the vast majority of licensees already adopt a common sense approach and common practices such as Challenge 21 mean they already comply with parts of the Code.

There is certainly an argument to say that the Code is an example of punishing all operators for the actions of a few, instead of using existing powers to weed out the minority of irresponsible operators.

There is every chance that the conditions will be added to or amended before they become law, and I am quite sure they will continue to generate a good deal of debate.

Malcolm Ireland, head of licensing, Napthens solicitors.
 

Enjoyed this? Read more from LBV

Latest news

1

Airframe Designs completes groundbreaking R&D project in polymer additive manufacturing Breakthrough at Airframe Designs

Airframe Designs completes groundbreaking R&D project in polymer additive manufacturing

03 Mar 2025

2

Boost your management skills with workshops UCLan workshops

Boost your management skills with workshops

25 Feb 2025

3

Lancashire Growth Plan to be launched at Convention of the North Cllr Phillippa Williamson With A Convention Branded Minibus

Lancashire Growth Plan to be launched at Convention of the North

25 Feb 2025

4

AMS Neve makes waves in California, demonstrating products to Stevie Wonder Stevie Wonder And His Team Receiving A Demo Of The Genesys G3D Console By Joe Heaton Of AMS Neve In California Press

AMS Neve makes waves in California, demonstrating products to Stevie Wonder

25 Feb 2025

5

Partners at law firm Harrison Drury complete management buyout John Chesworth and Simon England

Partners at law firm Harrison Drury complete management buyout

25 Feb 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV121 March/April Launch Event
121 Lancashire Business View Magazine Launch
Networking
20 Mar 2025

LBV121 March/April Launch Event

The Whitakers Museum, Rossendale, BB4 6RE

08:30 - 10:30

Skills Bootcamp in Procurement - Cohort 3
Blue-Modern-Land-Travel-Youtube-Thumbnail-2-1024x576.png.png
LBV Hub Awards
14 Jan 2025 - 18 Mar 2025

Skills Bootcamp in Procurement - Cohort 3

Community & Business Partners CIC, Blackburn, BB2 3UA

09:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Post Employee Ownership Trust: What's the story?
LBV image.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
04 Mar 2025 - 04 Mar 2025

Post Employee Ownership Trust: What's the story?

Brabners, Preston, PR5 6AW

11:00 - 12:30

Better People Management Workshop - March 5
UCLan Better Management Workshop
LBV Hub Seminars
05 Mar 2025

Better People Management Workshop - March 5

Strawberry Fields Digital Hub, Chorley, PR7 1PQ

10:00 - 15:30

Better People Management Workshop
LBV Hub Seminars
05 Mar 2025 - 05 Mar 2025

Better People Management Workshop

Strawberry Fields Digital Hub, Chorley, PR7 1PQ

10:00 - 15:30

North West (Preston) Finance Leaders Networking Event
MHA-BTI Logo_black (002).jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
05 Mar 2025

North West (Preston) Finance Leaders Networking Event

Farington Lodge Hotel, Stanifield Lane Farington, Preston, PR25 4QR

08:00 - 10:00

Better People Management Workshop
UCLAN event
LBV Hub Seminars
06 Mar 2025 - 06 Mar 2025

Better People Management Workshop

The Oaks Hotel, Colne Road, Burnley, BB10 2LF

10:00 - 15:30

Fertility and IVF Support in the workplace
Supporting Women's Health in Your Teams A Path to Success-2.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
07 Mar 2025 - 07 Mar 2025

Fertility and IVF Support in the workplace

* , Online , *

12:30 - 13:30

The Employer’s Toolkit: Payroll, Employment Law, and Benefits
Copy of am alert (2).jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
07 Mar 2025 - 07 Mar 2025

The Employer’s Toolkit: Payroll, Employment Law, and Benefits

Village Hotel Bury, Bury, BL9 7BQ

09:00 - 12:00

March Preston tech Connection: IWD Accelerate Action
PRESTON TECH CONNECTION jan.ai-5.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
13 Mar 2025 - 13 Mar 2025

March Preston tech Connection: IWD Accelerate Action

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV120 Online Graphic 1
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin