Consultation on continuing relaxation of off-sales and Temporary Event Notices
2023
The Government has today launched a consultation on a number of regulatory easements that were introduced by the Business & Planning Act 2020 due to the pandemic. These relate to off sales and Temporary Event Notices (TENs).
1. Off Sales
This easement permitted on-sales premises licence holders to automatically provide off-sales as well, subject to certain restrictions.
The consultation is proposing taking forward one of the following three options:
- Do nothing – meaning that after 30 September 2023 the easements will revert to those set out in the Licensing Act 2003.
- Make permanent the easements for off-sales under the Business and Planning Act 2020 i.e. on-sales alcohol premises licences automatically permit off-sales as well (subject to certain restrictions).
- If a premises has both an alcohol premises licence and a pavement licence, the area covered by the pavement licence would be automatically included in the premises licence.
2. Temporary Events Notices (TENs)
The easement increased the TENs entitlement for premises per year from 15 TENs across an aggregate of 21 days to 20 TENs across 26 days.
The consultation is proposing taking forward one of the following three options:
- Do nothing – meaning that after 31 December 2023 the easements will revert to those set out in the Licensing Act 2003 i.e. premises will be restricted again to 15 TENs across an aggregate of 21 days.
- Extend the easement for a further 12 months until 31 December 2024.
- Make permanent the easement i.e. premises will be allowed 20 TENs across an aggregate of 26 days.
The consultation ends on 1 May 2023. Further details can be found here
Responses can be submitted either:
- online here
- by email - alcohollicensingconsultations@homeoffice.gov.uk; or
- by post to - Regulatory Easements Consultation, Alcohol team, 5th Floor, Fry Building, Home Office, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF
If you require any assistance in responding to the Consultation or require advice in respect of how the easements affect your business currently then please get in touch with one of our specialist licensing solicitors on 0114 2668664.