Rebalancing the Licensing Act consultation

This consultation asked for your opinions on government plans to overhaul the current licensing regime, in order to give more power to local authorities and police.

From July to September 2010, the Home Office conducted a public consultation exercise on the rebalancing of the Licensing Act. The consultation sought advice from representatives from a wide range of sectors including the on trade, off trade, police, health bodies and interested organisations. It asked for opinions on how to help local authoirities and the police deal with alochol-related crime and disorder, while also promoting responsible business.

We would like to thank all parties who participated in the consultation exercise.

Proposals

We have now published the government response to the 'Rebalancing the Licensing Act' consultation, as well as the full consultation analysis (part one and part two).

You can also view the original consultation and accompanying documents.

The proposals included:

  • overhauling the Licensing Act to give local authorities and the police much stronger powers to remove licences from, or refuse to grant licences to premises that are causing problems
  • allowing councils and the police to permanently shut down any shop or bar that is repeatedly selling alcohol to children
  • doubling the maximum fine for those caught selling alcohol to minors to £20,000
  • allowing local councils to charge more for late-night licences, which will help pay for additional policing

Further information

A number of the proposals outlined in the Rebalancing the Licensing Act consultation are being taken forward in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill, which was introduced on 1 December 2010. You can read more about the progress of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill.

We have produced a set of fact sheets which provide detailed and factual information on the main alcohol proposals currently being taken forward which include:

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