main content Licensing law changes take affect

Over 660 businesses have applied to convert or vary their licence when the licensing legislation comes into force on Thursday. Approximately a quarter of businesses have applied to the Council’s licensing team to extend their opening hours. The hearings to decide the extensions are being held into the New Year. The new legislation makes councils responsible for issuing licences to sell alcohol.

“Residents views are highly important under the licensing legislation. Objections have led to many Bromley pubs being granted very limited or no extra opening hours. But where no one objected to an application, we were bound by the legislation to allow the longer hours requested. Residents have the power to call for a review if the new hours prove unacceptable, but it is vital that they provide firm evidence of public nuisance, crime and disorder, lack of public safety or risk of harm to children. We hope that everyone will enjoy the extra drinking hours in a sensible manner, but we will not hesitate to crack down on unacceptable behaviour or premises found to be selling alcohol to anyone under 18.” said Councillor Tony Owen, Chairman of the Licensing Committee.

The Licensing Act 2003 made the councils the licensing authority instead of local magistrates courts. Peter Larkin was issued the last ever ‘Justices Licence for Alcohol’ for the Metropolis Bar in Bromley High Street by Bromley Magistrates Court. The licence was issued on Friday 4 November and was an historic day as the courts have been dealing alcohol licences for over 400 years.

In 2001, the Government announced plans to reform the country's licensing laws. The changes started to come into place on 7 February 2005, with the new regime finally taking over on Thursday 24 November 2005. It affects -

• pubs and nightclubs;
• indoor sporting events;
• off-licences;
• restaurants that serve alcohol;
• businesses offering hot food between 11pm and 5am (with certain exceptions);
• hotels, guest houses and other places that sell alcohol;
• private member's clubs and social clubs;
• theatres and amateur dramatic groups;
• cinemas; and
• organisers of occasional entertainments.

Advice about the licensing process is available by contacting the Council’s licensing team on 020 8313 4218.

ENDS 

For media enquiries, please contact Andrew Rogers, Communications Advisor, on 020 8461 7670, or email andrew.rogers@bromley.gov.uk or Paul Lehane, Licensing Team Leader on 020 8313 4216.