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Summer transfer window hots up!

The biggest (yet least surprising) transfer of the summer has just been announced.

Responsibility for alcohol licensing and enforcement has transferred from the DCMS to the Home Office. The DCMS will retain responsibility for regulated entertainment therefore creating a situation reminiscent of the old regime where alcohol and entertainment responsibilities were split between the Magistrates and Local Authority.

The move is designed to avoid repetition of responsibilities and to stream line government but many will fear it will lead to an increase in regulation and mandatory conditions at a time responsible operators are calling for less interference and bureaucracy.

The Minister for Crime Prevention, James Brokenshire, said, "We have already committed to overhaul the Licensing Act to give local authorities and the police much stronger powers to remove licences from, or refuse to grant licences to, any premises that are causing problems."

"We will toughen the sanctions for those premises found to be persistently selling alcohol to children and will allow local councils to charge more for late-night licences, which in turn will raise money for extra policing. We will also ban the below cost sale of alcohol."

Interestingly we understand a fast track consultation on proposed changes to the Licensing Act is to be launched by the month end with workshops for industry members are to take place in London between the 30th July and 6th August with the overall "consultation" taking only 6 weeks. It is understood this is to allow the government to implement any additional measures in the autumn.

We will be looking to participate in this process and would urge you to become involved to seek to maximise the trade voice on this issue!