Alcohol and late night refreshment licensing statistics

The Home Office has today published statistics realting to alcohol and late night refreshment licensing in England and Wales – something it has done on an annual basis (other than years ending 31 March 2011 and 31 March 2015) for some time. The current statistics are based on information provided by 345 out of 350 licensing authorities with imputed estimates for the remaining 5 that did not respond. The statistics listed are as stated by the Home Office but clearly there is an element of rounding by them. For instance, the percentage increase in premises licences is significantly closer to a 0.5% increase than 1%.

The headline figures as at 31 March 2017 show that:

• there were 211,500 premises licences, a 1% increase of 1,100 compared with 31 March 2016;
• there were 14,300 club premises certificates, a 3% decrease of 400 compared with 31 March 2016;
• there were 689,600 personal licences, a 6% increase of 41,700 compared with 31 March 2016;
• there were 88,000 premises licences with late night refreshment, a 0.1% decrease of 100 compared with 31 March 2016; and
• there were 8,000 premises with 24-hour alcohol licences, the same as at 31 March 2016.

Other points of note include (with the statistics relating to the year ending 31 March 2017):

Premises Licences

• 9,175 decisions on applications for new premises licences were made; of these, 97% (8,937) were granted and 3% (238) were refused. Of the 9,175 decisions, 1,061 were in cumulative impact areas (94% granted, 6% refused).
• 4,913 decisions on applications to vary a premises licence were made; of these, 98% (4,803) were granted and 2% (110) were refused. Of the 4,913 decisions made, 546 were in cumulative impact areas (93% granted, 7% refused).
• 4,617 premises licences were surrendered by the holder, 5,101 were suspended by licensing authorities, 753 lapsed, 26 were affected by a closure notice, and 1 was suspended by a court.

Personal Licences

• 337 personal licences were surrendered, 19 were revoked, 7 were forfeited and 3 were suspended by a court.

Reviews

• 600 Reviews were completed, representing a 14% decrease of 100 compared with the year ending 31 March 2016.
• 177 licensing authoritieshad completed at least one Review, with 31 being the maximum number completed in any one licensing authority.

Regarding the reason(s) for completed Reviews

• 80% (471) were for premises licences following a general application for a Review
• 16% (94) were for premises licences following an application by the police for an expedited review
• 3% (15) were for premises licences following a closure order
• 1% (6) were for club premises certificates following a general application for a Review
• 467 were for crime and disorder of which 93 Reviews related to the sale of illicit alcohol
• 195 were for public nuisance
• 176 were for public safety
• 131 were for the protection of children

Of the total completed Reviews in the year ending 31 March 2017 where the responsible authority was reported on:

• 52% (309) were instigated by the police
• 20% (120) were instigated by trading standards
• 7% (44) were instigated by environmental health officers
• 6% (37) were instigated by local residents
• 13% (78) were instigated by other responsible authorities or interested parties

Regarding the action(s) taken following Reviews:

• 376 reviews resulted in conditions being added to the licence or modified
• 207 resulted in a licence being revoked or a club premises certificate being withdrawn
• 61 resulted in the designated supervisor being removed (for premises licences only)
• 88 resulted in a licence or certificate being suspended
• no action was taken following 30 reviews

Cumulative Impact Areas

• Based on data provided by 97% of licensing authorities(340 out of 350), 107 licensing authorities accounted for the 223 cumulative impact areas in place as at 31 March 2017 and the number reported in any given licensing authority ranged from 1 to 8.

Late Night Refreshment Exemptions

• No licensing authorityhad applied for any late night refreshment exemptions as at 31 March 2017. There have been no late night refreshment exemptions since this series began in 2016.

The full report is available here