Sports clubs and beauty shops to benefit from proposed alcohol law

Local businesses such as beauty shops, sports clubs and high street stores that want to become ancillary sellers of alcohol could find it easier to apply for licences under new legislation proposed by UK ministers.

Ministers believe their proposals would see local businesses save money and avoid jumping through bureaucratic hoops

Claiming it is too difficult for establishments that are not bars, pubs or restaurants to serve alcohol due to legal red tape, politicians have put forward a new type of alcohol licence that has been estimated to cumulatively save business-owners between £7.8m and £15.3m.

If approved, the ‘light touch’ drinking law would veto the current blanket requirements for all alcohol-selling companies to pay significant costs in training, application fees and criminal records checks.

Stating that current alcohol licensing laws, which apply to all types of businesses in the same way, are costly and may not help reduce crime and disorder, Jeremy Brown, minister for crime prevention, said: “Alcohol doesn’t always cause problems. For example, in local pubs, at museums, galleries, sports clubs and charity events, alcohol can bind communities together and drive local growth – if sold responsibly.

“That is why, while taking a firm line on the harms caused by alcohol, this government has also committed, where possible, to cut red tape for businesses without undermining important safeguards against alcohol-related harm.”

Under the proposals, personal licences currently obligatory for all alcohol sellers would be cut and replaced with locally imposed conditions by the local authority (that is, the licensing authority).

As such, applicants will not need to undergo training unless required by their local council, nor will they be subject to a criminal records check or be required to make a criminal records declaration unless required by the local authority.

A government impact assessment draft of the proposal reads: “The Government is concerned that the system of personal licences may be ineffective and poorly targeted.”

“As part of efforts to generate economic growth, the Government is committed to reducing unnecessary administrative burdens on businesses and will consult on whether conditions applied locally to premises licences would be a more cost effective and targeted alternative.”

“The overarching objective is to reduce regulation on business; remove unnecessary bureaucracy; support local growth and give greater powers to licensing authorities to determine what is appropriate for their local areas, without undermining the statutory licensing objectives.”

Currently, under the Licensing Act 2003, any premises which sell alcohol requires that all sales must be authorised by a personal licence holder and a designated premise supervisor must also hold a personal licence.

Consultation on the new proposals ends on 7 November.