This would apply to existing and future premises licence holders.
What would this option mean in practice for existing licence holders?
- Holders of licences which only cover on-sales would automatically continue to be entitled to make off-sales, without any need to amend their licence. This would enable pubs and restaurants that only have an on-sales licence to sell alcohol for take-away and delivery.
- It would also allow these premises to sell alcohol for consumption in the area covered by any pavement licence that they have.
- There could be an option for licensing authorities to impose a condition which precludes sales for takeaway and/or delivery and/or for consumption in a licensed pavement area, should that be necessary in connection with individual premises in order to uphold licensing objectives.[1]
What would this option mean in practice for new licence applicants?
- Any premises licence applicant would automatically be able to make off-sales as well as on-sales.
- This means the licence holder would automatically be able to sell alcohol for take away, provide delivery services and to sell alcohol for consumption in the area covered by any pavement licence that they have.
- New licence applicants would still be required to place a notice in a local newspaper.
- There could be an option for licensing authorities to impose a condition which precludes sales for takeaway and/or delivery and/or for consumption in a licensed pavement area, should that be necessary in connection with individual premises in order to uphold licensing objectives. Applicants could also suggest such a voluntary condition.[1]
Further information
- This amendment could be made via a Legislative reform order.
- The process for the grant, variation and renewal of premises licences would remain the same, with no amendments to determination periods, duration of licences, statutory consultees and fee levels.
- Premises licence plans would not need to be amended.
[1]: For example, if takeaway sales were creating anti-social behaviour nearby in the locality (but away from the premises), a condition could remove the automatic granting of the takeaway sales; or a condition might set a terminal hour for sales for consumption in the licensed pavement area, whilst allowing for continued sales for consumption inside the premises, in order to avoid noise problems at night in a residential neighbourhood.