Alcohol Law Changes Announced

Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has announced proposed changes to laws surrounding the sale of alcohol in Northern Ireland.

The move follows a Department for Social Development consultation in 2012 on changes to the law regulating the sale and supply of alcohol.

The changes being brought forward include:

• restrictions on the advertising of alcohol in supermarkets and off sales premises;

• introduction of an occasional additional late opening hour for certain licensed premises on up to 12 occasions per year;

• "modest" changes to the Easter opening hours for public houses, with normal opening hours applying on the Thursday and Saturday before Easter;

• the alignment of the alcohol and entertainment licensing systems to "make enforcement of the law on late opening easier for the police";

• formal approval for codes of practice on the "responsible" sale of alcohol; and

• minor changes to the law affecting private members clubs.



Minister McCausland said: "The sale and supply of alcohol has to be regulated in a way that recognises its potential negative impacts and I believe that liquor licensing plays a key role in setting the environment in which alcohol is consumed.

"While I am keen to ensure that licensing laws assist in supporting the hospitality industry and tourism it must be in a way that does not add to the difficulties we already have with alcohol as a society.

"The challenge is finding the right balance. Many of those who responded to the public consultation argued that the law in Northern Ireland should be brought into line with the law in England and Wales where there are fewer restrictions on the sale of alcohol. Given the experience in England and Wales, since their law was relaxed in 2005, I do not believe it is sensible to go down that road. I am prepared however to support a small increase in opening times for bars by allowing them to apply for permission to sell alcohol until 2am on up to 12 occasions per year."

Pubs of Ulster Chief Executive Colin Neill said: "Whilst we welcome the Minister’s commitment to reforming our antiquated liquor licensing laws, there is still a way to go before the industry here sees true modernisation of the system.

"Pubs of Ulster have been calling for a change in the law for a number of years and we welcome proposals such as the alignment of drinks and entertainment licensing systems, and the introduction of a new 'Occasional Licence' that will allow pubs to open until 2am. However this occasional licence needs to be allowed at least every weekend, and not on 12 occasions as proposed.

“More work also needs to be done to make Northern Ireland more tourist friendly and the fact that our pubs are still restricted on certain days over Easter weekend, which has become an important holiday weekend in terms of customer demand, means that many pubs will continue to lose out at this time of the year."

(IT/CD)