Licensing Act 2003
The Licensing Act 2003 will have a dramatic effect on the
control and administration of licensing for all alcohol premises
and entertainment establishments in England and Wales. The Act aims
to simplify the current law to make applications more user friendly
and save time and expense by avoiding unnecessary hearings in the
absence of objections.
The main features of the Act are as follows:
- transfer of administration and control of premises licensed to
sell or supply alcohol to local authorities from the Magistrates'
Courts
- a single premises licence authorising all forms of
entertainment and supplies of alcohol
- a dual system of personal and premises licences for alcohol
premises
- abolition of 'permitted hours' - each operator can apply to
open the hours they wish
- new local guidance regarding applications for new licences
- entertainment and late night refreshment covered by the new
Act
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