Aug 19th, 2011
by Maria Guida.
As licensing lawyers, we often hear licensee clients say that once their customers leave their pub or nightclub, they are not responsible for their patrons’ actions. If these customers then go on to cause disorder, shouldn’t it be down to the police to control them?
This argument (often used by licensees) that they are not responsible for what their customers get up to after they have left their premises has been put to rest by two recent cases, one involving a supermarket in Brighton and the other, a nightclub in Bristol.
This is a preview of
Brighton Rocks while Bristol Screams: who is responsible after closing time?
.
Read the full post (1026 words, 3 images, estimated 4:06 mins reading time)
May 12th, 2011
by Maria Guida.
LONDON BOROUGH OF CAMDEN LICENSING EMBRACES TECHNOLOGY
Many local authorities already allow pub, restaurant and other licensed business owners to apply online for licences. Now Camden Council have taken this a step further and have stopped sending consultation letters out to residents who live near to premises whichnis the subject of a licensing application. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
Nov 30th, 2010
by Maria Guida.
Temporary Event Notice (TEN)
You don’t need reminding but Christmas is fast approaching. Now is a good time to check your Premises Licence and to make sure that it covers both:
o The hours you wish to open and
o The licensable activities that you want to run over the Christmas and New Year period.
Temporary Event Notices can be used to:
o add required licensable activities or
o to extend the hours that can be provided, or
o for licensable activities on unlicensed premises.
Oct 20th, 2010
by Maria Guida.
With the half term school holiday nearly at an end now, many of you will be returning from having hopped on a plane to enjoy some sun. Did you know that any airside venue at an international airport, selling an alcoholic drink to a person, who is already drunk, cannot be prosecuted (even for this most obvious breach of the licensing laws)?
This is because such venues enjoy immunity from the Licensing Act. Sussex Police recently carried out a “test purchasing” spree at Gatwick Airport and uncovered some sales to underage drinkers. Sadly for them, due to the fact that any bar, restaurant or pub selling alcohol on the airside of International Airports in England and Wales do not need a premises licence, they were unable to prosecute. Now Sussex Police are lobbying for change.
Sep 20th, 2010
by Maria Guida.
Every local authority has a licensing policy which sets out the manner in which licensing applications for the sale and supply of alcohol, the provision of regulated entertainment and the provision of late night refreshment are considered. Whilst this policy must be reviewed every three years, each local authority is also required to keep its policy under review within this period and make such revisions, as it considers appropriate.
The current policies will be revised to reflect changing circumstances and any relevant concerns and comments received. The new policies will continue to focus upon promoting the four statutory Licensing Objectives:
Sep 20th, 2010
by Maria Guida.
Following on from my last blog, All Change Again: Rebalancing The Licensing Act you might be concerned about when the Home Office is bringing in the changes to the Licensing Act? Don’t be (not just yet, anyway).
The Home Office recently confirmed that any proposed changes to the Licensing Act would not be brought into force until 2012. Just to recap, the proposals include:
- Overhauling the Licensing Act to give local authorities and the police much stronger powers to remove licences from, or refuse to grant licences to premises that are causing problems
Jul 28th, 2010
by Maria Guida.
Theresa May, the Home Secretary has published a consultation paper today entitled, “Rebalancing the Licensing Act.” The consultation paper starts positvely, acknowledging licensed premises working with the police to reduce alcohol related harm and mentioning the acheivements of Business Improvement Districts and Best Bar None, but it then goes on to make suggestions for improving the licensing system, which will make most licensees’ toes curl.
The Licensing Act 2003 was consulted upon and took around five years to come into force. For this latest consultation, the response deadline is 8th September 2010 and the intention appears to be to legislate as soon as possible using the Police Reform & Social Responsibility Bill, which will be produced later this year.
Jun 1st, 2010
by Maria Guida.
New rules come in today requiring that all new door staff at bars and clubs must learn how to safely restrain and remove customers who have had one too many and are violent and drunk. For all existing door staff – no training is required. However, this too is coming under scrutiny and before long we could see such training becoming compulsory for all bouncers.
The mandatory training has been introduced after a number of high profile deaths and injuries in bars and nightclubs.
Apr 27th, 2010
by Maria Guida.
… Or at least for Early Morning Drinking as the Crime & Security Act 2010 receives the Royal Assent
With the general election looming, the subject of 24 hour drinking is high on the agenda, but the truth is, 24 hour Licences have always been a bit of a myth. Very few establishments have them, and of those that do, few use them to open all hours.
Despite the lack of 24 hour drinking, many bars and clubs open later than they used to. Last year, there were 973,000 reported violent attacks where the offender was under the influence of alcohol - almost half of all violent incidents. Police have warned that their resources have been stretched to breaking point dealing with fights in the early hours.
