New licensing laws

A new licensing law has come into force which is designed to help protect local communities from some of the more negative effects of alcohol.

The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 Act has five clear objectives which it is hoped will:

Now that this law has come into effect (1 September 2009), alcohol is being sold differently. For example, in shops and supermarkets it is sold only from designated areas. Happy hours and promotions, such as ‘buy one get one free’, are banned so that there is no more active enticement to drink more than you really intended.  Bars must now provide customers with free tap water if requested.
 
In relation to alcohol which is sold for consumption off the premises, this is allowed only between 10am and 10pm. In relation to all other sales, submissions re ‘operating hours’ will have been made by all licensees, when applying to Licensing Boards for their particular licences. Approved ‘operating hours’ will be contained in a summary licence which must be displayed within each premises.

The Licensing Act will also mean some significant changes for bar staff. All employees in licensed premises have to be fully trained before serving alcohol (including part time and casual staff). This means that there should be more knowledge about the law and enforcement.  The Act makes it easier for people to make their views heard on how alcohol affects their community as a whole; as long as they have reasonable grounds to do so, anyone can ask a Licensing Board to review the licence of any premises.

The Council employs three Licensing Standards Officers to investigate any complaints about licensed premises, and to offer general advice to the public on licensing.

David Inglis,  Wick, covers Caithness Sutherland and Easter and Wester Ross;   Elizabeth Treasurer covers Skye, Kyle & Lochalsh and Lochaber and Ian Cox, Inverness, covers Inverness Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey, Dingwall and the Black Isle.  

Premises each have individual Operating Plans and a Children’s Policy which will outline the terms under which children and young people are allowed on the premises.

Overall, these measures have been put in place to help create a safer and healthier population.

It’s useful to understand what the act will mean for you.  More information is available by logging onto www.infoscotland.com/licensingact

For general information about alcohol and what’s being done to promote responsible drinking for those who drink alcohol log onto http://www.highland-adp.org.uk/, http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/ or http://www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/