SBPA wins £12k from Glasgow Licensing Board

The Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA) has been awarded £12,000 costs after its legal battle with Glasgow Licensing Board over whether a personal licence holder has to be present every time alcohol is served.

The SBPA pursued the Board through the Court of Session in Edinburgh in May over a statement in its licensing policy, due to go live next year, that a personal licence holder must be "on the (licensed) premises at all times when alcohol was being sold."

Glasgow did amend its position a few days before the case but the hearing still went ahead on the subject of costs.

The SBPA was awarded 75% of its costs, which has now been settled at £12,000.

"We are glad that the matter has now been settled by the City of Glasgow Licensing Board by them paying the costs awarded against them," said SBPA chief executive Patrick Browne.

"In May, we welcomed the Board's decision to amend its earlier stated position on Personal Licence Holders, although we still had to pursue the issue of our costs in court.

"We did not receive all of the costs back which were incurred by the Association, only court costs can be recovered, but we knew that would be the position in launching our legal challenge."

He added: "The industry remains fully in support of the process of licensing reform in Glasgow and across Scotland, as long as this is in line with what we believe to be the letter of law under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Regulations associated with that.

"The SBPA will continue to seek to represent the concerns and interests of its members going forward and will not hesitate to seek legal clarification of any policies being undertaken by any of Scotland's Licensing Boards where this is deemed necessary."