Covid 19 - Pending off sales extension (Alcohol Licensing (Coronavirus) (Regulatory Easements) (Amendment) Regulations 2021)

Further to our recent article on the extension of the Covid pavement licence scheme until 30 September 2022, we flagged that those Regulations did not extend the automatic temporary modification of premises licences to permit off sales.

The extension of these off sales provisions within the Licensing Act 2003 are intended by Government pursuant to the Alcohol Licensing (Coronavirus) (Regulatory Easements) (Amendment) Regulations 2021. If passed These Regulations will extend the off sales provisions until 30 September 2022 in line with the extension of the pavement licence scheme. However, these Regulations have not yet come into force and no date is known for this as yet. We will keep an eye on these and provide an update if and when known - otherwise numerous premises could be caught out if they are not brought in.

The same Regulations will also temporarily increase Temporary Event Notice (TENs) allowances for the duration of 2022 and 2023 to 20 TENs (currently 15) across an aggregate period of 26 days (currently 21) per premises per calendar year.