Licence Reviews

Have you received notification that your premises licence is to be reviewed?

Call me now on 07976844694, to discuss your individual circumstance.

I can help you.

Sanctions available to the Sub Committee at a Review Hearing

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Take no action

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Replace the DPS

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Issue a warning letter

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Suspend the licence for a maximum of three months

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Add/amend conditions to the licence

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Revoke the licence

The four Licensing Objectives

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The prevention of crime and disorder

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Public safety

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The prevention of public nuisance

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The protection of children from harm

Why have I received this notification?

A premises licence can be reviewed if one or more of the conditions on your licence have been breached, or any of the 4 Licensing Objectives have been undermined.

This could be due to, for example:

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A sale of alcohol taking place outside of the permitted hours

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A sale of alcohol made to a customer who is under 18 years of age

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A sale of alcohol made to a customer who is already intoxicated (drunk)

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Or, one or more of the four licensing objectives have been breached

The four Licensing Objectives

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The prevention of crime and disorder

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Public safety

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The prevention of public nuisance

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The protection of children from harm

What can happen at a review?

The ultimate sanction of a review is your premises licence could be revoked, meaning you can no longer legally sell alcohol from your premises. Now clearly if you run an on-sale establishment such as a pub or a club, then this will mean the end of your business. A pub that cannot sell alcohol does not have much of a future.

An off-sales premises could also face the same fate. Many a shop would not survive if the ability to sell alcohol was removed. It is not only the sale in itself, but the add-on sales the alcohol brings to the turnover.

The customer who just nips out to buy a bottle of wine, will pick up three or four other items while they are in the shop, but without the alcohol on offer, they shop elsewhere.

Whatever type of premises you run, protecting your licence is crucial to your business success.

Although revocation is the ultimate penalty there are other sanctions available to the Licensing Sub Committee.

If you have received notification that your licence is to be reviewed

What happens next
There will follow a 28 day consultation period, (as per a new premises licence application), which allows any other authority, and the general public to wither support the review, or indeed make a positive representation for your business. The council will place a blue notice, on or near your premises which will remain in place for the full 28 days.

After the consultation period you will be invited to a review hearing in the council chambers where your application will be considered, and any of the above sanctions may be imposed.

I have seen Stewart Gibson in action at licensing hearings. He is an effective advocate and displays considerable tenacity and good judgement in pursuing his clients’ best interests
Gary Grant
Licensing Barrister, Francis Taylor Building, Inner Temple London

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