Have You Renewed Your Licence?

Businesses were supposed to apply for new licences by 6 August and yet many have failed to do so.

 

Have you?

 

If you currently have a licence for liquor, public entertainment, theatre, cinema and late night refreshment you will be caught. There is now just one licensing system which is simpler than the previous regime.

 

Natasha Bliss, a solicitor in our Company Commercial Department says:

 

There are now two main types of licence:

 

 

Local councils have become the Licensing Authorities and the courts now no longer administer liquor licensing. The new rules also abolish fixed licensing hours.

 

The new licensing rules come into force on 24 November 2005. The Licensing Act 2003 contains the law and local businesses have therefore had lots of notice. Anyone not licensed on time will be acting unlawfully and could be prosecuted.

 

Maximum fines for those trading without an appropriate licence are £20,000 and/or imprisonment. Even if your existing licence does not need updating you must apply. Existing licences expire on 24 November 2005. Managers and senior staff have to hold a Personal Licence too. Some chains of pubs are having to send managers of every branch on courses. The implications of the legislation are huge and yet many businesses seem completely unaware of them.

 

Also you may be affected by an application for an extension of a licence for example because you work or live near a pub which is applying for even later opening hours and might need legal representation to assist you in objecting to the plans. Contact us if you need advice in this area.

 

Call Natasha Bliss on 0117 9290451 or e-mail nbliss@metcalfes.co.uk

 



This press release summarises the law on issues which we believe may be of interest to your business. It is not a comprehensive review of the subjects and accordingly is published without responsibility for loss occasioned to any person(s) acting or refraining from action as a result of information published