Legal advice: Festive season warning to protect your licence

It seems that police forces and environmental health officers are taking an ever-more vigilant approach to licensed premises with the numbers of inspections up and more applications being made to review premises licences.

With Christmas approaching this stance is likely to get even tougher.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, prevention is clearly better than cure. Be seen to be meeting the government's licensing objectives in a proactive way. If you have a Pubwatch scheme in your area, then attend the meetings.

If there is not a Pubwatch scheme, consider setting one up. Your local police licensing officer should be able to assist.

Think carefully before offering discount promotions on drinks and remain vigilant to ensure that underage sales do not occur, especially with the likely increase in test purchases following publication of the government's figures on underage sales.

Local residents and the relevant authorities are becoming increasingly savvy and practised at gathering evidence to present at variation or review hearings. The making of a quick buck around Christmas time could come back to haunt you at a sub-committee hearing in the New Year.

The same advice applies if you plan to use temporary event notices (TENs) over the festive period. While TENs are not granted with conditions, be cautious. Later hours and/or an increase in the number of regulated activities could necessitate an increase in staffing levels (especially SIA-registered door supervisors) or an increase in the food provision.

So much for Christmas cheer!