Northern Ireland - The Licensing (Form of Licence) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023

The Licensing (Form of Licence) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 will come into operation on 31 May 2023.

Their aim is to ensure that the current form of licence, which is issued by a court pursuant to the Licensing (Form of Licence) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997, and authorises the retail sale of alcoholic drinks, is amended to take account of changes made by the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2021.

The regulations do the following:

• Allow for a reference to an authorisation permitting further later opening for public houses and hotels, until 2.00am on 104 days in any year, except Christmas Day.
• Add a reference to the premises of a local producer of alcoholic drinks which is now included in the categories of premises which may be granted a liquor licence and will be authorised for the retail sale of alcoholic drinks for consumption off the premises.
• Add a further reference to an order which has been granted to a certain part of a local producer's premises stating it as being suitable for the sale of alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The reference includes details of the permitted hours for consumption on the premises, limited to between 4pm and 10pm, on 104 occasions in any year.
• Add a reference to an underage function which is authorised to take place in specified licensed premises when a certain part of the premises which has been deemed suitable to hold an underage function and certain conditions have been met. The reference includes details in relation to the time under 18s are permitted to attend a function, up to 1.30am, and to remain on the premises, up to 1.30am following the function.
• Remove references relating to provisions in the 2021 Act which removed additional restrictions on Good Friday, Easter Day and made Easter weekend permitted hours the same as any other weekend throughout the year.
• Remove reference to late night permitted hours on a Sunday, making closing time on a Sunday night the same as any other night.

Further details about the Regulations from the Department of Communities can be found here