ACS

The Policing and Crime Bill was introduced into Parliament yesterday. The Bill seeks to introduce a mandatory Code of Practice for alcohol retailers. This Code will consist of a set of up to nine mandatory licensing conditions for all alcohol retailers. It will also provide a set of licensing conditions licensing officers can choose to apply to premises in an area with an identifiable alcohol related problem. There will also be best practice guidelines which Licensing Authorities will have a duty to regard when making their decisions.

The Bill also seeks to introduce a set of four new offences to deal with street drinking including increased fines, new confiscation powers and removing the need to prove intent to drink when dealing with underage drinkers in possession of alcohol. It will also amend the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2005 to reduce the number of underage sales for the persistently selling alcohol to children from three strikes to two strikes.

The Bill will have its second reading on the 19 January