Guidance Review is ACS' Chance to Bring Clarity to Licensing Problems
18 May 2006
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has been invited to take part in a consultation group that will look at the major issues that have arisen with the way in which the new Licensing Act has been implemented. The Guidance, which advises primarily local authorities and all others involved with the licensing system, has been criticised for its lack of clarity in contentious areas of interpretation and for its silence on other issues.
A formal consultation on the key issues that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport decide should be addressed under the review is expected in the Summer. In preparation for that the consultation group will assist DCMS in identifying what will be contained in the review.
ACS Chief Executive, David Rae said: “We are delighted to be invited to take part in the group. Our aim is to represent the off licence and convenience store trade by highlighting the problems and inconsistencies experienced by off licences working with the new licensing system.
“In particular we will be stressing the need for greater consistency on the issue of when a personal licence holder has to be on the premises when alcohol is sold; the need to prevent local authorities from imposing standardised conditions on alcohol licences; and the importance of clearly defining how a licensing authority decides what ‘in the vicinity’ of the premises means in respect of alcohol-related issues.
“ACS will be working with colleagues across the off licence sector to ensure that the review addresses the concerns of the industry. We ask retailers to feedback to us their concerns about the implementation of the Act to assist us in this important phase of the implementation of the Licensing Act."
A formal consultation on the key issues that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport decide should be addressed under the review is expected in the Summer. In preparation for that the consultation group will assist DCMS in identifying what will be contained in the review.
ACS Chief Executive, David Rae said: “We are delighted to be invited to take part in the group. Our aim is to represent the off licence and convenience store trade by highlighting the problems and inconsistencies experienced by off licences working with the new licensing system.
“In particular we will be stressing the need for greater consistency on the issue of when a personal licence holder has to be on the premises when alcohol is sold; the need to prevent local authorities from imposing standardised conditions on alcohol licences; and the importance of clearly defining how a licensing authority decides what ‘in the vicinity’ of the premises means in respect of alcohol-related issues.
“ACS will be working with colleagues across the off licence sector to ensure that the review addresses the concerns of the industry. We ask retailers to feedback to us their concerns about the implementation of the Act to assist us in this important phase of the implementation of the Licensing Act."