06-Oct-2010 By Ewan Turney
The fight is now on to ensure that responsible premises are exempted from the late night levy after Home Secretary Theresa May said the Government...
01-Oct-2010 By Ewan Turney
The second part of the controversial Mandatory Code on alcohol retailing comes into force today — even though it may be scrapped within months....
Extra mandatory code guidance due tomorrow
30-Sep-2010 By James Wilmore
More guidance on the next stage of the mandatory code is due to appear on the Home Office website tomorrow (Friday), when the new laws come into...
Home Office 'looking carefully' at trade's licensing fears
29-Sep-2010 By James Wilmore
The Home Office is "listening" and "looking carefully" at the industry's concerns over the licensing shake-up, according to the British Beer &...
Future of SIA thrown into doubt
24-Sep-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
The Home Office has confirmed that the future of the body responsible for licensing doortstaff is under threat. As part of the government's review...
Trade in limbo over new laws
23-Sep-2010 By James Wilmore
Costly new laws forcing pubs to offer smaller drink measures take effect next week - but the trade remains in limbo over how they will be enforced...
Minister: Licensing plans are not aimed to 'get at pubs'
15-Sep-2010 By James Wilmore
A Home Office minister has argued the controversial licensing shake-up is not an attempt to "get at pubs", but admitted the consultation period would...
15-Sep-2010 By John Harrington
Home Office minister James Brokenshire has given the clearest indication yet that councils could get powers to impose minimum pricing on alcohol...
Nigel Jones: Licensees must have say on licensing reform
25-Aug-2010
The consultation closes on September 8 and I would urge fellow licensees to raise their objections at the Home Office website. I joined those at the...
23-Aug-2010 By Peter Coulson
Licences can be put under threat in variety of ways, without any further stringent legislative changes from the Home Office, warns Peter Coulson.
20-Aug-2010 By Lesley Foottit
The pub trade has cautiously welcomed a move by the Home Office to temporarily ban all new legal highs. The late-night sector has been hit by a...
20-Aug-2010 By John Harrington
Major plans to shake-up licensing won't be enacted until 2012 at the earliest, including plans for a new licensing objective of protecting public health.
Barrister labels licensing consultation 'a nonsense'
19-Aug-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
A leading licensing lawyer has slammed the Home Office for allowing just six weeks for responses to its plans for licensing reform as "a nonsense"....
19-Aug-2010 By Ewan Turney
Despite the Government giving the impression that Licensing Act reforms are open to debate, the changes seem to be decided, says Ewan Turney.
19-Aug-2010 By Ewan Turney
The Home Office is hosting consultations as part of its plan to overhaul licensing — but is the Government in listening mood, asks Ewan Turney.
Beer Group wants longer licensing consultation
18-Aug-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
Beer Group MPs are demanding the government extends its licensing reform consultation claiming it is "unreasonably curtailing" the chance for people...
10-Aug-2010 By Ewan Turney
The Government has announced a series of consultation dates for the industry to have its say on alcohol taxation. Its plans for re-classifying the definition of cider will be up for discussion.
09-Aug-2010 By John Harrington
The Home Office has confirmed two more dates as part of its licensing reform consultation roadshow — and licensees are invited to attend. There...
One-in one-out red tape rules will cover licensing shake-up
05-Aug-2010 By James Wilmore
The Home Office has confirmed its overhaul of the licensing regime will be covered by the new "one-in, one-out" rules on regulation. The Department...
03-Aug-2010 By Peter Coulson
Now that licensing has moved back to the Home Office, May might try to place even stronger controls on retailers, says Peter Coulson.
30-Jul-2010 By Phil Mellows
Phil Mellows sees the move of licensing back to the Home Office as a sign that drinking is now seen primarily as a law and order issue, and disagrees.
London and Birmingham licensing consultation events full up
30-Jul-2010 By James Wilmore
The Home Office licensing consultation events in London and Birmingham are already full, The Publican understands. However, it is understood places...
29-Jul-2010 By Gemma McKenna
The transfer of responsibility for licensing to the Home Office should free up the DCMS to positively promote pubs, trade leaders argue.
Trade urged to sign-up to Home Office licensing events
26-Jul-2010 By James Wilmore
Publicans are being encouraged to attend one of the five consultation sessions around plans to "re-balance" the licensing regime. Invitations for...
23-Jul-2010 By Ewan Turney
The trade will have just six weeks to convince Government that no further changes are required to the Licensing Act. The Home Office is to hold a...
22-Jul-2010 By John Harrington
Moving control of licensing to the Home Office will mean a "more consistent approach" to the issue is taken, according to a Government minister....
Licensing handed over to Home Office
20-Jul-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
Licensing matters will primarily be dealt with by the Home Office, according to a statement from the Prime Minister today. In the statement David...
06-Jul-2010 By Peter Coulson
The licensing role within the senior ranks of the police is to advise Government on the practicalities of proposed legislation, says Peter Coulson.
05-Jul-2010 By Lesley Foottit
Six major trade bodies are urging the Government to grant exemptions from paying new late-night levies to pubs involved in BBN and BID schemes.
New licensing minister: 'No agenda to penalise pubs'
14-Jun-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
The newly-appointed licensing minister has said there is no government agenda to punish pubs and that they are "part of the solution" to dealing with...
20-May-2010 By John Harrington
In an apparent U-turn, DCMS minister John Penrose gets the licensing brief. However, the Home Office will still have a say in some areas.
17-May-2010 By John Harrington
Control of licensing is to return to the Home Office under the new coalition Government, a senior Tory source has told the MA.
04-May-2010 By Peter Coulson
Local authorities in Colchester have turned Home Office anti-promotion material into a set of rules, says Peter Coulson.
20-Apr-2010 By Peter Coulson
General elections have a habit of interfering with the legislative process, says Peter Coulson.
12-Apr-2010 By Peter Coulson
Licensees could be charged with breaching the Licensing Act while the experts are still arguing over what it actually means, says Peter Coulson.
Home Office defines 'irresponsible promotions'
06-Apr-2010 By James Wilmore
Licensees who still want to run drinks promotions are being urged to check with their council or police first that it does not fall foul of the new...
30-Mar-2010 By Peter Coulson
The other day I was taken to task for not being specific about what activities would constitute an "irresponsible promotion", says Peter Coulson.
25-Mar-2010 By Michael Kheng
Why is it that our industry, one of the oldest and one of the nation's favourites, is always under attack, asks Michael Kheng.
Moves to clarify fake ID seizure welcomed
24-Mar-2010 By Matt Eley Matt
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18-Mar-2010 By John Harrington
The Conservatives want to "rationalise" the number of Government departments dealing with pubs — adding weight to rumours they'd put the Home...
19-Feb-2010 By John Harrington
The pub industry must keep "knocking on the door" of the Home Office to improve its perception in Government. That's the message from former BII...
12-Feb-2010 By John Harrington
The Conservatives have accused the Government of acting in a "shambolic way" over its plan to ban alcohol sales between 3am and 6am. The proposal...
02-Feb-2010 By Gemma McKenna
The mandatory code will cost £859 per pub in the first year — £613 more than original estimates. The Home Office estimates the total cost across...
29-Jan-2010 By Ewan Turney
The "two strikes and you're out" rule on underage alcohol sales comes in to force today. Councillors and licensing officers can now also call for a licence reviews themselves, rather than wait for local people or police to raise concerns.
Mandatory code details due tomorrow
18-Jan-2010 By James Wilmore
Full details of the government's controversial mandatory code of practice will be unveiled tomorrow, the Home Office has confirmed. Press reports...
13-Nov-2009 By Ewan Turney
Stringent mandatory conditions on alcohol retailing moved a step closer yesterday as the Policing and Crime Bill received Royal Assent. The Act...
21-Oct-2009 By John Harrington
More pub operators will be encouraged to confiscate ID used fraudulently to buy alcohol underage after the Home Office gave a virtual green light to...
Home Office backs pubs' right to seize ID
21-Oct-2009 By Matt Eley Matt
Pubs have been given the green light to confiscate fake or borrowed ID after a Home Office minister stepped in to clarify the situation. Nick...
Brown's clampdown is nothing new, admits Home Office
29-Sep-2009 By James Wilmore
The Home Office has admitted that powers already exist within the Licensing Act to restrict and review 24-hour licences, despite Gordon Brown...
23-Sep-2009 By John Harrington
Campaigners have accused the Government and officials of misleading businesses over the effectiveness of new national ID cards for avoiding underage...
