Shake up of Licensing Law, a Cocktail of new measures

The Government is today releasing details of its proposed shake up of Licensing Laws with a Consultation on its proposals expected to last no more than 6 weeks just as MP’s start their summer recess.

Full details will be contained in the Consultation document and we are interested on your views. Licensing partner Peter Adkins has been asked to form a Consultation Committee for the Birmingham Law Society to respond to these proposals. If you are involved in the Licensed Trade and would like your views considered please contact Peter at p.adkins@sydneymitchell.co.uk

The proposals reported go far further than those outlined in the Queens Speech, but do they really address the issue of binge drinking and drink fuelled violence?

The Morning Advertiser has reported Home Secretary Teresa May as saying:

"The benefits promised by the 24-hour drinking cafe culture have failed to materialise and we have seen an increase in the number of alcohol-related incidents and drink-fuelled crime and disorder.

We know the majority of pubs and bars are well-run businesses but the government believes the system needs to be rebalanced in favour of local communities with tougher action to crack down on the small number of premises who cause problems."

With under 1% of existing Licenses being reviewed each year we will have to see how much extra burden is to be imposed upon those well run establishments to ensure others toe the line.

The proposals reported include:

• The removal of the ‘in the vicinity’ rule for complaints over a licence.
• Doubling of the maximum fine for selling to under-18s to £20,000
• Closure orders for problem premises to be extended to seven days
• An extra charge on premises open late at night to help pay for police
• Tougher restrictions on temporary event notices
• Authorities will be able to assess full impact on disorder and public health when deciding on applications with a proposal to add a 5^th Licensing Objective
• Alcohol Disorder Zones to be scrapped in favour of the late night levy
• Ban on below cost sales of alcohol
• Increasing licence fees so that local councils can cover costs linked to enforcement leaving premises to pay rather than the local taxpayer

Watch this space for more information.