Scottish Licensing Bill set to abolish happy hour

Happy hours are on borrowed time in Scotland after plans to outlaw promotions which could encourage binge-drinking were outlined in the Scottish Licensing Bill.

Permitted hours and Scotland's seven types of licence are also to be scrapped, while existing licensees may have to re-apply for their licences.

The Scottish Executive has indicated that "grandfather rights" - added in at the last minute in the English reform - are unlikely to be considered under the new system, which is expected to come into force at the end of 2006.

The Licensing (Scotland) Bill is proposing that pubs adhere to "consistent daily pricing" for a minimum of 48 hours. A list of banned promotions is also included.

"Two-for-one" promotions are out, as are "£10 entry and drink-for-free" type deals and - technically - any marketing promotion that involves a free pint or such measure.

Scotland's licences will be abolished, to be replaced by a premises licence and a personal licence, while permitted hours will also be scrapped to allow licensing boards to decide who opens when.

Launching the bill, deputy minister for finance and public service reform Tavish Scott played down the bureaucratic nightmare facing licensees saying: "The time from the Bill being launched today, passing through parliamentary procedures and coming into effect, will give plenty of opportunity for licence-holders to deal with the transition.

"I am not naturally in favour of grandfather rights as that is a recipe for 'no change' and that's not what we're signing up for."

The changes were broadly welcomed by the Scottish Beer & Pub Association. But chief executive Patrick Browne warned that the lack of grandfather rights could severely disrupt the changeover to the new regime.

"In England and Wales the government has conceded grandfather rights to the licensed trade, which will transfer the current trading hours for premises over to the new regime," he said.

"We would urge the Scottish Executive to do this to provide certainty to the trade and a level playing field for all licensees."

Inevitably, licence fees are set to rise, with some speculation already that premises licence fees could rise to an initial £2,000, with a £1,000 retention fee. Further costs could be created by the appointment across Scotland of licensing standards officers, who will be responsible for ensuring premises are complying with their operating plans.