Permanent Relaxation Of Licensing Hours On New Year's Eve
Views on plans to allow the permanent relaxation of licensing hours at all future New Years' Eves are being sought, Licensing Minister Dr Kim Howells announced today.
The proposals outlined in a consultation document published today would allow pubs to open for an un-broken period of 36 hours from each New Year's Eve until the following New Year's Day.
The proposals mean, when normal licensing hours are included, that pubs would be free to open between 11am on each New Year's Eve until 11pm on New Year's Day. It will give licensees the flexibility to open at times that suit their customers' demands and facilitate national celebrations.
Licensing Minister Kim Howells said:
"The impact of the relaxation of licensing hours for the Millennium celebrations and last year's New Year's Eve was monitored and proved successful. That is why the Government is now consulting the public on a permanent change affecting all future New Years' Eves.
"If we decide to seek Parliament's approval of this measure, the permanent change to licensing hours would increase opportunities for people to celebrate New Year's Eve how and when they choose and provide the industry with the chance to give their customers what they want.
"We are still committed to reform and modernise our archaic and antiquated licensing laws with a Licensing Bill when Parliamentary time permits. But in the meantime, we want to ensure that consumers have greater freedom to celebrate special national occasions like New Year's Eve."
Following the consultation, the Government will decide whether to table a draft regulatory reform order in Parliament for scrutiny by the Parliamentary Committees in each House responsible for regulatory reform matters. It is hoped that this year (New Year's Eve 2002) will be the first year affected by the permanent change.
Importantly, as for the relaxations during the New Years' Eves in 1999 and 2001, the Government proposes that the police, local authorities and local residents will be given the right to apply for restriction orders to limit the relaxed hours on specific premises which might cause disturbance, annoyance or disorder.
When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the proposal would mean that pubs would be free to open for the first time ever during the hours of normal Sunday morning Christian family worship. The Government is particularly keen to hear the public's views on this aspect of the proposal. Views are sought by 19 June.
Notes to Editors
1. The consultation document is available online. Hard copies are available from the Press Office on 020 7211 6267.
2. Up to 132,000 on-licensed premises and registered members' clubs normally have to make license exclusion applications individually.
Press Enquiries: 020 7211 6052/6277
Out of hours telephone pager no: 07699 751153
Public Enquiries: 020 7211 6200
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