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7 July 2003

CONSULTATION ANNOUNCED ON CHANGES TO LIQUOR LAW FOR INDOOR ARENAS

Draft legislation that will allow indoor arenas such as the Odyssey Arena to apply for a licence to sell alcohol, was issued for consultation today by John Spellar, MP, Minister with responsibility for Social Development.

Mr Spellar said: "I have approved the publication of draft legislation to amend the existing liquor licensing law following an earlier public consultation which showed significant support for the licensing of indoor arenas.

"The changes will enable an indoor arena with a seating capacity of at least 5000 to sell alcohol but the safeguards contained in the existing legislation, particularly those relating to young people in licensed premises, will remain in place.

"I very much hope the legislation needed to implement the changes will eventually take the form of a Bill the Assembly can vote on.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. The legislation regulating the sale and consumption of intoxicating liquor in Northern Ireland is contained in the Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 which specifies the following types of premises for which a court may grant a licence to sell alcohol:

    public houses;
    off-licences;
    hotels, guest houses and restaurants;
    conference centres;
    higher education institutions;
    places of public entertainment – currently theatres, ballrooms and certain racetracks;
    refreshment rooms in public transport premises; and
    seamen’s canteens.

  2. It is currently impossible for an indoor arena to apply for a liquor licence under the Licensing Order as venues such as the Odyssey Arena were not envisaged when the current liquor licensing law was being formulated. At present the Odyssey Arena relies on the discretion of the court to grant occasional licences permitting alcohol to be sold at events.

  3. A draft Order in Council entitled The Licensing (Indoor Arenas) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 and an Explanatory Document have been published. The consultation period will end on 29 September 2003.

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