Consultation into licensing hours extension for Euros launched
It will look at whether to relax licensing hours or to rely on the existing temporary event notices (TENs).
The football tournament is set to take place from 14 June 2024 in Munich with the final on 14 July in Berlin.
According to the consultation document, the purpose of relaxing licensing hours during this time would be to enable pubs and other on-trade venues to sell alcohol and late-night refreshment to customers watching the relevant matches live.
However, it would not cover any regulated entertainment as the relaxation would relate specifically to Euro 2024.
Huge event
Licensing hours would not be relaxed beyond 1am for any of the matches, which are set to kick off at 8pm UK time, allowing for three hours of playing time with time for possible post-match celebrations.
UKH chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “Euro 2024 is set to be a huge event for hospitality businesses next summer as fans pack pubs and bars to cheer on the home nations.
“We support the Home Office proposals to extend licensing hours for the semi-finals and final, should we reach that stage of the tournament.
“Major sporting events provide a huge revenue boost and extended hours are essential to allow venues and fans to take full advantage."
Positive boost
She added: “This sort of advanced planning benefits fans, businesses and the Government and is exactly the type of approach we have been advocating for in our engagement on this issue for many years.
“I’m pleased the Home Office is consulting well in advance, acting on our calls on behalf of the sector.”
Poppleston Allen partner James Anderson referenced how this has been the case before for other big events.
He said: “A positive boost for the trade, which is legally possible because the Licensing Act gives the Home Secretary the power to extend hours generally if an occasion is of ‘exceptional national or international significance’ and such powers have been used successfully before.”
