Janet Hood: How many more licensed premises does Scotland need to lose?
Unlike the position in England and Wales no effective grandfather rights were vested in transition. Apart from premises not being able to be knocked out of the game for overprovision and applicants not having to produce planning, building standard and food hygiene certification each application was applied for as of new.
Complex, heavily bureaucratic operating and lay-out plans were required for each premises even where licensing boards already held previously acceptable lay-out plans - for every on-sale and some off-sale premises it was determined that new plans were to be required for all "in the interests of fairness" .
Operating plans had to be devised - complex documents which require to detail all activities and conditions, for example where children can go on premises and which must be reflected in lay-out plans. Does it really matter if children are permitted in bedrooms or dining rooms?
Oddly grandfather rights which have been loosely described as permitting what went on prior to transition have not been extended to access by persons under 18 to non bar areas even though no specific permission was required for this before.
So now when we have lost 20 per cent or approximately 4,000 licences across the country with who knows what loss of employment - we are told that one of the measures of success of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 will be the reduction in the numbers of licensed premises in Scotland.
How many more do we need to lose?
Well we are waiting to see the Scottish government's firm proposals relating to the introduction of minimum pricing (is it indeed lawful?), social responsibility fee (tax on licensed business), off-sales to over 21s at the discretion of licensing boards (patchwork access) and what else?
Governments on both sides of the border are greatly influenced by the medical profession - we have to ask can legislation which has the overall effect of reducing employment really make an impact on the health of this nation?
Perhaps our leaders should look at the underlying social ills that drive people to abuse alcohol in Scotland and the rest of the UK instead of punishing responsible professional business owners whose efforts undoubtedly improve the nation's health by providing employment and more importantly safe, welcoming, well run establishments where people socialise in a normal environment, ease their cares and have fun.
Janet Hood is the head of BII Scotland
