Gov't says licence holders can leave premises
Supplementary guidance to the Licensing Act issued by the Department for Culture Media and Sport says Personal License Holders can be off site while alcohol is sold.
Licensing Minster Shaun Woodward announced the guidance this afternoon, saying: "We've published further guidance for police and councils today to clarify some of the issues which have arisen since the Licensing Act became law.
In particular I want to make clear that licence holders do not need to be on site at all times - provided they officially put someone else in charge.Licensing minister Shaun Woodward.
"In particular I want to make clear that licence holders do not need to be on site at all times - provided they officially put someone else in charge.
"The new licensing laws have been in place for six months. But it's still too soon to draw any conclusions. We will continue to monitor the impact the Act throughout this year and beyond."
The guidance also says councils should ask licensees for advice when drawing up late-night transportation plans
and local residents and police do not need a catalogue of evidence when seeking a licence review.
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Your CommentsRobert Feal-Martinezvia email 23/06/2006"I must be completely stupid. As a DPS I need to be a Personal Licence Holder. I was never ever required to be present 24/7. It was only the trade press and the trade bodies that didn't understand this and of course the DCMS. This so called revelation from Tessa Jowell, is still wrong. Personal Licence holders per say do not enter the equation. It is only DPS's that are the issue. Is there anyone out there with a Brain."
Mike via email 23/06/2006"I could say your first sentence was spot on Mr Feal-Martinez but I wouldn't be that rude. This case has nothing whatsoever to do with the DPS. It's about the police interpretation of supervision of alcohol sales and in Barnsley, they are insisting that a Personal Licence Holder (not the DPS) is on the premises at all times. The DPS can go on holiday, they say, but he or she must leave in charge a 'personal licence holder'. Because of the ambiguity of the act, this is a valid interpretation however not one followed by the majority. Hopefully Ms Jowell will clarify the situation in the new guidance otherwise it will take a court case to determine the issue."
Ken Nason via email 23/06/2006"It seems the only people who actually understand the requirements of the act are the licensees. It is only the LA's and police who are in confusion and doggidly go down the road of self indulgent law making for their own ends.
What happened to the basis of law and civil liberties in this country?
Not only are licensees subjected to "sting " operations which applied in any other part of the community would bring uproar and indignation they are decided to be guilty of all offences without proof.
Now we are told that anyone who wishes to object to a license does not have to provide any proof just an accusation which must be defended at the licensees cost.
It seems that you are no longer innocent until proved guilt but guilty until you prove yourself innocent.
The basis for the freedoms we enjoy in this country have been erroded and removed by this totalitarian government without us even noticing.
The final stage for total control of this nation will of course be the imposition of ID cards."
Jerry Lonsdale via email 23/06/2006"Brains, what brains, how long did it take the government to realise this matter.
God help us all with the smoking ban issue, it looks like it will take a life time of waiting for clarity on that issue too.
poor us
Pam Watts via email 23/06/2006"at last sense has prevailed
lets hope they keep bactracking and the we can all get back to running our pubs instead of playing with nonsensical legislation."
David Yates via email, 23/06/2006Before the new licensing act cam in we licencees were allowed to go on holiday and have days off etc with out another licencee to take over, infact we were a trusted bunch of dedicated people,
it would be very interesting to see how many licencees there was before the act came into force, and how many personal licence holders there is now.
