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The Licensing Act 2003 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom. The Act establishes a single integrated scheme for licensing premises, which are used for the supply of alcohol, to provide regulated entertainment or to provide late night refreshment. Permission to carry on some or all of these licensable activities will now be contained in a single licence the premises licence.
Key measures contained in the Act include:
- flexible opening hours for premises, with the potential for up to 24 hour opening, seven days a week, subject to consideration of the impact on local residents, businesses and the expert opinion of a range of authorities in relation to the licensing objectives. This will help to minimise public disorder resulting from fixed closing times;
- a single premises licence which can permit premises to be used to supply alcohol, to provide regulated entertainment and to provide refreshment late at night. This will bring together the six existing licensing regimes (alcohol, public entertainment, cinemas, theatres, late night refreshment house and night cafes) thereby cutting down on red tape;
- a new system of personal licences relating to the supply of alcohol which will enable holders to move more freely between premises where a premises licence is in force;
- premises licences to be issued by licensing authorities after notification to and scrutiny of all applications by the police and other responsible authorities. Those living in and businesses operating in the vicinity of the premises will also be able to make representations on applications;
- personal licences to be issued by licensing authorities after scrutiny by the police where the applicant has been convicted of certain offences.
The Act is one of some controversy. On one side of the argument is the frustration some British drinkers and continental tourists have with the fact that drinking up time is 11pm, as opposed to the more liberal drinking regulations of continental Europe. They believe that a liberalisation of the drinking-up time will reduce 'drinking against the clock', a precursor to binge drinking. Those against the legislation believe that binge drinking will continue, but more excessively, as drinkers will have more time to get drunk.
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