The Licensing Act 2003 has had a dramatic effect on the control
and administration of liquor licensing for all premises selling or
supplying alcohol, providing regulated entertainment and late night
refreshment in England and Wales. In cities such as
London, Birmingham,
Manchester, Cardiff, Sheffield, Leeds and Bristol, as well as many
major towns this has led not to the "light touch" approach
envisaged by the Government to well run licensed premises, but a
more regulated and proactive control of them.
The main features of the Licensing 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
licensable activities
- 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 national licensing regulations and local guidance regarding
applications for new licences
- regulated entertainment and late night refreshment covered by
the new Act
Click here for a free 30-minute
consultation with an expert licensing
solicitor.
