Trade concerned over Nicholson Committee proposals

Recommendations for the most radical overhaul of Scotland's licensing system in over 25 years have caused concern in the industry.

The report proposes that the present system of licences and permitted opening hours, which is different from that used in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, should be replaced by a "tailored premises by premises" approach.

This would allow each pub to apply for the hours it wants and will result in staggered closing times.

But the proposals of the Nicholson Committee, chaired by Sheriff Principal Gordon Nicholson, have been given a lukewarm welcome.

Paul Waterson, from the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said that while he agreed with many of the recommendations in the report, some of them could lead to serious problems.

"Nicholson has called for the abolition of permitted hours and we feel this policy, coupled with the introduction of one licence for all, is fraught with danger."

He fears it could lead to off-trade businesses muscling into an already overcrowded pub market.

He said: "Supermarkets could now submit an operating plan to a licensing board and as long as they outlined their provision, they could conceivably get a licence to serve alcohol on their premises, say on the site of a coffee shop. I think the big chains might go for this. It will blur the lines between the on and off-trade."

David Agnew, assistant manager of the Horse Shoe Bar in Glasgow, said: "Getting longer opening hours will be easier, but that could well cut into the pub trade.

"We already have problems on Friday evenings because clubs in Glasgow are taking in office parties at 5pm and taking away our customers. There are still a lot of grey areas."

Under the current system in Scotland there are a set of permitted hours for Mondays to Saturdays (11am to 11pm) and Sundays (12.30pm to 2.30pm and 6.30pm to 11pm).

The licensing boards are able to grant extensions if a pub applies for an extra licence such as a breakfast licence.

If Nicholson's proposals are incorporated into a new Licensing Act for Scotland licensees could be issued with one single premises licence.

The report also calls for a crackdown on irresponsible promotions, the introduction of a national proof-of-age card and the creation of liquor licensing standards officers.

If the Scottish Executive adopts the proposals it will turn Scotland's licensing system into one of the most liberal in Europe.