Supper Hours Certificates

As of yesterday, Tuesday April 2 2002, it is now no longer necessary for restaurant licence holders to apply for a supper hour certificate. By David...

As of yesterday, Tuesday April 2 2002, it is now no longer necessary for restaurant licence holders to apply for a supper hour certificate.

By David Clifton, one of thePublican.com's legal experts from licensing solicitors Joelson Wilson

In other words, it will not be necessary in future for an additional application to be made to enable restaurant licence holders to sell alcohol for an hour beyond the normal pub permitted hours each evening.

The government has recognised that the requirement for restaurateurs to make a separate application to extend their permitted hours places too heavy a burden on those operators.

Restaurant operators will no doubt jump for joy at the prospect of not having to face more red tape in order to be able to trade for a little longer. Hopefully, it will not be too long before publicans enjoy the same benefit.

Having long been an advocate of putting all the resources of licensing authorities at the end of the licensing spectrum, in other words using resources against those not adhering to licensing legislation rather than penalising licensees new to an area, I also advocate staggered hours.

Surely it must be right that the longer licensed premises are open the more likely there will be a gradual drift away of customers rather than peaks at 11pm and 2am leading to binge drinking and potential peaks of noise and disturbance on the streets of our towns and cities.

Surely the continental model coupled with education relating to sensible drinking will have the desired effect.

Let us hope that where the restaurateurs of today lead, the Government will allow publicans to follow in the very near future.