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It always makes you feel good when you discover something useful…and even better when it’s free! So we like to provide a few hints and tips for you that we have picked up from general experience or recent reading. Hope you find them useful.

2008 is a big year for the licensed trade as we all prepare for the first major change to liquor licensing in over 30 years. The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 comes into effect on 1st September 2009; however from now until then we are in a transition period when all licensed premises must apply to have their license renewed under the terms of the new Act.

Here are some key facts about the new Act:

  • It will affect the majority of outlets where alcohol is sold.
  • All current licence types (e.g. hotel, public house, off-sales) will be replaced with a single Premises Licence and a Personal Licence.
  • To continue to trade you will need apply for and be granted a Premises Licence; you will need to submit an operating plan and layout plan with your application.
  • The opening hours for any premises will be determined on an individual premises basis, as set by the Licensing Board.
  • Once granted a Premises Licence will last indefinitely and a personal licence will last for 10 years.
  • To be eligible to hold personal licence, an applicant must be 18 or over and hold a licensing qualification.
  • All staff that sell alcohol (or serve it for consumption on the premises) must be trained by the commencement of the Act, which comes fully into effect at 5.00am on 1 September 2009.

So if you are a licensee at present you need to check the month in which your current licence expires (the year of expiry is irrelevant).

If your licence expires in March of any year you must have your application, operating plan and layout plan with the licensing board by 7 March 2008.
If your licence expires in June of any year you must have your application, operating plan and layout plan with the licensing board by 6 June 2008.
If your licence expires in October of any year you must have your application, operating plan and layout plan with the licensing board by 3 October 2008.
If your licence expires in January of any year you must have your application, operating plan and layout plan with the licensing board by 16 January 2009.

If you fail to meet these deadlines you will lose your “grandfather rights” which means you will not be exempt from over provision assessments and you will have to provide building standards, planning and food hygiene certificates.

You should consider undertaking the training for the new Act as soon as possible as this will assist you when completing your operating plan and provide you with a greater understanding of the changes and your roles and responsibilities. The certificate is valid for 5 years so book early….and book with Westfield!