Policy Brief on licensing updated

The Policy Centre has updated its Policy Brief on Alcohol Licensing to include the Government summary of, and response to, the responses to its consultation exercise, published on 20 May.

The Brief sets out the long history of the issue and includes links to all relevant documents. The first consultation was in 2009 and subsequently there have been several attempts to reform the law but nothing has happened. However, there is now every chance of appropriate legislation being enacted.

One issue highlighted in the Brief is the rather bizarre provision in the form of guidance from the Attorney General that prevents pubs from offering drinks promotions, such as happy hours. However, there is no such restriction on off-licences which regularly offer promotions such as discounts and three-for-two offers. This particular anomaly can be rectified simply by the withdrawal of the guidance.

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