The process of relicensing premises is in chaos, says Rod Addy
As the initial August 6 deadline approaches for retailers reapplying to sell alcohol under new licensing rules, a crisis is looming. According to the latest figures combining on-trade and off-trade applications, Westminster Council has received just 27 premise applications from 3,600 licensed premises. Camden Council has received two from a possible 1,700. Incredibly, others have received none.
Now, fears are mounting there will be an overwhelming flood of applications at the 11th hour - and that some retailers may fail to secure their licences in time.
The warning signs have been there for some time. The Association of Convenience Stores says applications have been delayed from the first.
Until recently, many retailers were still unaware that updating their licences was necessary, according to an ACS spokesman: “We’re still getting phone calls asking, ‘what’s this about the licensing laws?’”
The application forms were only available two weeks before the application period began on February 7. That gave retailers, councils and advisory bodies little time to adjust. Even after that, forms had to be re-formatted, because they were inaccessible to many retailers using the internet. And fees were suddenly changed. Consequently, retailers are in disarray and many have refrained from applying in their confusion. At least one area has been clarified. The government has written to the ACS confirming there is no requirement for applicants for personal licences to supervise all alcohol sales.
But there remains a dearth of completed forms from retailers. The Department of Culture, Media & Sport and Lacors, the government co-ordinator of regulatory services, are reviewing the number of applications. Local council licensing officers are chasing retailers, but a spokesman for Lacors says: “The trade aren’t pushing ahead with this. Our concern is that towards the end of July there will be a massive rush and
the local authorities aren’t going to be able to deal with this.”
A spokesman for the ACS echoes these comments: “The big concern is that retailers will apply right at the end of the period.”
If there is a last-minute stampede, there is no telling whether or not retailers will be able to retain their licences or extend their hours. An ACS spokesman says: “What if local councils say there’s something wrong with the form? Does the application count? What we don’t know is the extent to which the government has contingency plans in place to set back the day when old licences fold and new licences take over.” It’s worth bearing in mind, he adds, that before this year, magistrates handled licence applications and local licensing officers’ inexperience could slow things down. “Retailers have quite a high level of knowledge of the system. They are expecting the same from councils who are struggling to cope. They haven’t got a lot of money and until applications start to come in, they won’t have the fees either.”
Given the situation, the ACS is advising retailers to apply urgently and has produced a guide to help. It says retailers need to apply to convert their existing premise licences by August 6, whether or not they want to extend the hours during which they sell alcohol. If they do not, there is no guarantee they will be granted before the new system comes into force, expected to happen some time in November. Retailers without licences then risk losing thousands of pounds in sales until they are updated. They also need to apply for a personal licence to sell alcohol for whoever will supervise sales on the premises.
The new rules do not only apply to alcohol. Chris Mitchener, general manager of retail and licensing consultants Lockett & Co, says: “If you want to sell hot food and drink after 11pm and before 5.30am, you also have to have a premise licence.”
The moral of the story? Retailers should apply as soon as possible, says the ACS.
As the initial August 6 deadline approaches for retailers reapplying to sell alcohol under new licensing rules, a crisis is looming. According to the latest figures combining on-trade and off-trade applications, Westminster Council has received just 27 premise applications from 3,600 licensed premises. Camden Council has received two from a possible 1,700. Incredibly, others have received none.
Now, fears are mounting there will be an overwhelming flood of applications at the 11th hour - and that some retailers may fail to secure their licences in time.
The warning signs have been there for some time. The Association of Convenience Stores says applications have been delayed from the first.
Until recently, many retailers were still unaware that updating their licences was necessary, according to an ACS spokesman: “We’re still getting phone calls asking, ‘what’s this about the licensing laws?’”
The application forms were only available two weeks before the application period began on February 7. That gave retailers, councils and advisory bodies little time to adjust. Even after that, forms had to be re-formatted, because they were inaccessible to many retailers using the internet. And fees were suddenly changed. Consequently, retailers are in disarray and many have refrained from applying in their confusion. At least one area has been clarified. The government has written to the ACS confirming there is no requirement for applicants for personal licences to supervise all alcohol sales.
But there remains a dearth of completed forms from retailers. The Department of Culture, Media & Sport and Lacors, the government co-ordinator of regulatory services, are reviewing the number of applications. Local council licensing officers are chasing retailers, but a spokesman for Lacors says: “The trade aren’t pushing ahead with this. Our concern is that towards the end of July there will be a massive rush and
the local authorities aren’t going to be able to deal with this.”
A spokesman for the ACS echoes these comments: “The big concern is that retailers will apply right at the end of the period.”
If there is a last-minute stampede, there is no telling whether or not retailers will be able to retain their licences or extend their hours. An ACS spokesman says: “What if local councils say there’s something wrong with the form? Does the application count? What we don’t know is the extent to which the government has contingency plans in place to set back the day when old licences fold and new licences take over.” It’s worth bearing in mind, he adds, that before this year, magistrates handled licence applications and local licensing officers’ inexperience could slow things down. “Retailers have quite a high level of knowledge of the system. They are expecting the same from councils who are struggling to cope. They haven’t got a lot of money and until applications start to come in, they won’t have the fees either.”
Given the situation, the ACS is advising retailers to apply urgently and has produced a guide to help. It says retailers need to apply to convert their existing premise licences by August 6, whether or not they want to extend the hours during which they sell alcohol. If they do not, there is no guarantee they will be granted before the new system comes into force, expected to happen some time in November. Retailers without licences then risk losing thousands of pounds in sales until they are updated. They also need to apply for a personal licence to sell alcohol for whoever will supervise sales on the premises.
The new rules do not only apply to alcohol. Chris Mitchener, general manager of retail and licensing consultants Lockett & Co, says: “If you want to sell hot food and drink after 11pm and before 5.30am, you also have to have a premise licence.”
The moral of the story? Retailers should apply as soon as possible, says the ACS.
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