Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill: Consideration Stage

Part of Executive Committee Business – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 1:15 am on 8 June 2021.

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Photo of Paula Bradley Paula Bradley DUP 1:15, 8 June 2021

I am glad to be able to raise the issue of the surrender principle on the Committee's behalf, as amendment No 45 gives me a reason to do so. Although not part of the Bill, the surrender principle for licences was highlighted to the Committee in written and oral evidence from both positive and negative perspectives. Alcohol licences can change hands for considerable sums of money, and they are often viewed as part of the assets of licensed businesses.

On a positive note, the surrender principle provides some control over expanding the availability of licences and in normalising alcohol consumption, which are not possible in any other part of the UK. On a negative note, it causes difficulties for smaller retail outlets in getting a licence. Also, in rural areas, if a local pub sells its licence and it is snapped up by a larger retail chain, the area may lose a vital community asset. The Committee was certainly supportive of a review of the surrender principle, and it recommended in its report that a balanced review of the surrender principle's impact on public health, the economy and rural and local community life should take place no later than the first review of the legislation, which it should form part of.