Licensing Bill

Further developments in the licensing legislation means that the Bill is now awaiting Royal Assent and is on the Statute Book.

There will be a transtional period of around 18 months while local authorities receive all the information from magistrates regarding the issuing of licences (or certificates for clubs) and other administrative matters are prepared for. The differences which clubs will notice are:

1.Sale of alcohol - all alcoholic dispensing organisations, including clubs, will be limited to selling alcohol to those over the age of 18 years and fines will be heavy for pubs, clubs, supermarkets and anyone else found guilty of selling to those under 18.

Clubs will still be able to have rules permitting those under 18 to be members as they do at present, but they will not be able to consume or purchase alcoholic liquor.

2.Club Employees - no-one under 18 years of age will be allowed to work in clubs. No bar staff or glass collectors under 18 will be permitted.

3.No door supervisors required - despite some clubs being informed that supervisors or "bouncers" would be a requirement, we confirm that clubs will not need door supervisors.

4.Fees will be increased but simplified - the biggest downside is a substantial increase in fees. There will be an initial fee to be on the Local Authority list of CPCs and a yearly renewal fee. These amounts will be the same irrespective of club size and will be determined by the Minister shortly. There will, however, be no fees or licences such as Public Entertainment Licences.

5.Non-members and functions - clubs will be allowed 12 temporary events a year. This means wedding functions will be permitted subject to approval from the Local Authority. However, the individual who applies can make only five applications. Therefore the Secretary would make the first five applications, then the President would make the next five, and the Treasurer the remaining two.

6.Hours - there will be no set hours for licensed premises or clubs to be open. They will be able to determine themselves which hours to be open in the 24. Local authorities will, however, need an operating plan from clubs which will state their normal opening hours. This plan will include a detailed drawing of the club showing fire escapes, the situation of bars, fixed furniture, doors, interior walls etc. Clubs will have to include a copy of their rules.

7.Club Premises Certificate - this will take the place of the registration certificate and will be issued by Local Authorities as opposed to Magistrates. If a club does not receive approval from the local authority it will be able to appeal to the Magistrates. The Club Premises Certificate will be valid in perpetuity and therefore clubs will not have to renew their certificate as they do in court at the moment afterone, three, five or 10 years as laid down by the Magistrates.

The current Act will remain operative during the 18-month transitional period and clubs due to renew registration certificates in the next year should do so in the normal way.

July 2003