16-Mar-2009 By John Harrington
The DCMS rejects call from the chief medical officer for the health impact to be considered in licence applications.
22-Jan-2009 By Peter Coulson
One of the major differences between the workings of the old 1964 Licensing Act and the current 2003 version is the lack of clarity about what the law actually means, says Peter Coulson.
25-Nov-2008 By Gemma McKenna
The problems of the Licensing Act far outweigh the benefits, according to Noctis executive director Paul Smith. Speaking at the final session of the...
25-Nov-2008 By Ewan Turney
Licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe has warned that action on alcohol price could be imminent at the final hearing of the Licensing Act inquiry....
20-Nov-2008 By Peter Coulson
Licensing law needs to address death differently and take a more compassionate stance, says Peter Coulson.
06-Nov-2008 By John Harrington
The country's most influential policeman on alcohol-related issues, Simon O'Brien, says officers have enough power already in the Licensing Act to regulate pubs.
No rise in crime from Licensing Act, says top cop
15-Oct-2008 By James Wilmore
The Licensing Act has brought "no major spike in crime" and police have "significant powers" to deal with problems, a senior officer told MPs...
03-Oct-2008 By Peter Coulson
Licensing Act guidance made it clear that blanket conditions should be avoided, says MA legal guru Peter Coulson.
Government plans to "tinker" with Licensing Act
25-Sep-2008
Police and local authorities are failing to use the Licensing Act properly and the government plans to "tinker" with the legislation, a senior Home...
21-Aug-2008 By Peter Coulson
MA legal guru Peter Coulson considers the move to ban late night entertainment in the City of London.
A parting shot
07-Aug-2008 By James Wilmore
Whether it's calling for the trade to "take the moral lead" and introduce polycarbonates in all pubs, or speaking out against irresponsible premises,...
01-Aug-2008 By John Harrington
The Licensing Act has failed in its aim of cutting costs and red tape for licensees — that's the initial view of the MP heading a new probe into...
18-Jul-2008 By John Harrington
Impact on red tape and costs for hosts - and the effect on late-night disorder - will be examined by the DCMS committee
02-Jul-2008 By Ewan Turney
Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers launches scathing attack on the Local Government Association for claiming the Licensing Act has failed to reduce alcohol related disorder.
Licensing Act no cure for alcohol disorder, say councils
01-Jul-2008 By Matt Eley Matt
The Licensing Act has failed to prevent alcohol-fuelled disorder, according to local authorities across the country. In a survey of councils, police...
Govt probe into lap-dancing clubs
12-Jun-2008 By John Harrington john.harrington@william-reed.co.u
Council feedback will affect clubs' fate The Government is open to the idea of re-classifying lap-dancing clubs as sex encounter rather than...
29-May-2008 By Peter Coulson
MA legal editor Peter Coulson says there is no legal basis for Bexley's acceptable behaviour contract
GMV seeks action on enforcement
22-May-2008 By John Harrington john.harrington@william-reed.co.u
Hosts complain of uneven approach A trade group is to lobby Government to ensure councils and police enforce the Licensing Act evenly. Angry hosts...
15-May-2008 By John Harrington
Trade group calls for consistency in enforcement as fears over heavy handed tactics grow
InBrief
13-Mar-2008
Licensing Act is a failure, say 54% Just one in three licensees believe the Licensing Act has been a success. A poll on www.morningadvertiser.co.uk...
05-Mar-2008 By Ewan Turney
Pubs and clubs should pay for police - that's the view of police chiefs in response to the review of the Licensing Act. The Association of Chief...
03-Mar-2008 By Ewan Turney
The Licensing Act has "failed miserably" in its bid to cut crime and disorder, says LGA boss Simon Milton
Leaked report reveals crime down since Licensing Act
28-Feb-2008 By James Wilmore
Fears the Licensing Act would lead to widespread Armageddon are set to be banished by the Home Office's official review of the legislation. The...
27-Nov-2007
The Licensing Act has not fuelled an increase in drinking, according to a YouGov poll for the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA). The public...
Survey: police are using review power
15-Nov-2007 By John Harrington john.harrington@william-reed.co.u
Residents and police are using their new powers under the Licensing Act to take action against pubs and other licensed venues, new Government figures...
Councils "widely divergent" on approach to licensing
05-Nov-2007 By James Wilmore
Huge inconsistencies have been revealed in councils' approaches to the Licensing Act - with some licensees being left drowning in red tape. A survey...
02-Nov-2007 By John Harrington
Hosts face a postcode lottery over the amount of licensing paperwork they will have to cope with
21-Sep-2007 By Tamara Sender of M&C Report
BBPA writes to government with figures showing the Licensing Act has led to a reduction in alcohol-related violence
Licensing Act having positive effect, MPs told
20-Sep-2007 By James Wilmore
MPs have been told of the major effect the Licensing Act is having on cutting alcohol-related crime.In a letter seen exclusively by The Publican, Rob...
Licensing@aol.com
20-Sep-2007
Supplying drinks for staff Q We have been advised that all supply of drinks must stop at the end of the hours stated on our licence, even staff...
The legacy of Blair
16-May-2007
Tony Blair premiership ended as it began, with a rendition of 'Things Can Only Get Better'. The Labour party used the upbeat song during its 1997...
Legal advice: You may influence licensing policy
04-May-2007
Under section 5 of the Licensing Act 2003, local authorities are obliged to review their licensing policy every three years. The content of this...
Scottish licensing regime to impact drink pricing?
03-Apr-2007
Scotland's new Licensing Act - already set to end happy hours - could ban discounted drink prices. Specialist lawyers argue that in future key...
Chris Maclean: what it means to be drunk
07-Mar-2007 By Chris Maclean
I have been reflecting on what it means to be drunk.It seems perfectly obvious but it isn't.Sections 140-144 of the Licensing Act tell us we can't...
Government denies reports of U-turn over licensing
31-Jan-2007
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has branded reports it has performed a "U-turn" over the Licensing Act as "nonsense". Several...
Revised guidance on Licensing Act published
16-Jan-2007
The revised guidance for the Licensing Act has been published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. A consultation has been launched by the...
DCMS plans changes to streamline Licensing Act
14-Dec-2006 By John Harrington john.harrington@william-reed.co.u
The Government is planning major changes to the Licensing Act to streamline the application process for pubs. The plan would make it easier and...
Act is changing pub habits says survey
30-Nov-2006 By John Harrington john.harrington@william-reed.co.u
Drinking habits are evolving due to licensing reform, with people more likely to stay longer in community pubs. This is according to a survey of...
Government plans a red-tape cutback
23-Nov-2006 By John Harrington john.harrington@william-reed.co.u
Government is shortly to release a plan to cut red tape in licensing applications, licensing minister Shaun Woodward has revealed. In an interview to...
Jeremy Allen: The Licensing Act, one year on
22-Nov-2006
There are positives about the Licensing Act and that¹s not something we would have expected to hear from anyone this time last year.Despite all...
Fewer than one in 10 problem sites are pubs
13-Nov-2006
Fewer than one in 10 of licensed premises announced as facing review as a result of the new Licensing Act are pubs. Home Office figures released...
Crime down since launch of Licensing Act
09-Nov-2006
THE FIRST hard indications that the Licensing Act is having a positive effect on crime are emerging, days away from the first anniversary of the new...
12-Oct-2006 By Peter Coulson
MA Legal expert Peter Coulson answers your questions.
DCMS attacked over licensing guidance delay
05-Oct-2006 By James Wilmore
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has come under fire for a further delay over the guidance to the Licensing Act. A 12-week public...
29-Jun-2006 By The PMA Team
The new licensing regulations are just a little over six months old, but in that time they have had a noticeable effect on behaviour on the town pub...
Legal advice: It'll cost you
12-May-2006
Now that the Licensing Act 2003 has had time to bed in, it is perhaps time to take stock of the realities of operating pubs under the new regime....
Handling of Licensing Act under fire again
13-Apr-2006
The government has come under fresh fire for its handling of the Licensing Act - again being accused of "mistakes" in its implementation.The report...
30-Mar-2006 By Peter Coulson
Morning Advertiser legal expert Peter Coulson answers your queries.
Peter Coulson believes Westminster is abusing new laws
02-Feb-2006 By Peter Coulson - legal column
I am genuinely beginning to believe that the licensing administrators at Westminster City Council are not of this world. Last week I received the...
Licensees play waiting game for premises certificates
17-Nov-2005
With only a week to go until the start of the new regime, close to three-quarters of licensees are still waiting for their premises licence...