Home Office updates: New licensing powers come into effect 31st October; latest premises licences statistics

New Licensing powers will come into effect this week - see Home Office release. From the 31st October, local authorities will have the discretion to introduce Early Morning Restriction Orders (EMROs) and a 'late night levy' as part of plans to "re-balance" the licensing act through greater powers to councils and residents.

EMROs will allow local authorities to restrict the sale of alcohol between midnight and 6am - see EMRO factsheet. The late-night levy will allow charges to licences to contribute to the costs linked to late night drinking, such as extra policing and street cleaning - see late night levy fact sheet. Decisions on the powers were released earlier this year following a consultation.

The late-night levy and early morning alcohol restriction orders (EMROs) were set out in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011. See here for the Government Alcohol Strategy or here for a series of factsheets on the licensing changes.

Premises license numbers 2011/12

The Home Office have released 2011/12 statistics for alcohol licensed premises and associated activities. The release highlights as "Headline figures":

• 202,000 premises licences, the same as on 31 March 2010; [up 3% on 2008]
• 15,900 club premises certificates, 6% fewer than in 2010; and
• 502,400 personal licences, 16% more than in 2010.

Of the 202,000 total premises licences, a Home Office briefing highlights:

• 35,500 premises were licensed for on-sales of alcohol only (up 1% on 2010);
• 51,100 premises were licensed for off-sales or supply of alcohol only (up 5%);
• 82,900 premises were licensed for on- or off-sales or supply (up 1%).
• The remaining 32,500 premises were not permitted to sell alcohol, down 9% on 2010

The statistics also show:

• An increase of 8% in the number of premises with 24 hour licenses
• An increase of 6% in 'Premises licences off-sales or supply of alcohol only'
• A decrease of 5% in 'Club premises certificates on-sales of alcohol only'

Download the full statistics here (xls) and full separate Home Office briefings here. See here for an interesting and perhaps still relevant 2009 report, 'Pubs aren't dying - they are evolving'.