The government is to relax licensing laws if home teams make it to the semi-finals or final of the forthcoming Euros football tournament.
The Licensing Act will be relaxed for matches involving England and Scotland to avoid repeating problems which surrounded the Women’s World Cup final last year.
“This relaxation means that if the England and/or Scotland football team is successful in reaching the semi-final or final of Euro 2024, then on-licensed premises already licensed to sell alcohol until at least 11pm would benefit from an extension to those hours until 1am,” said Andy Grimsey, senior associate solicitor at Poppleston Allen.
“This would be an automatic extension, contingent only upon either England or Scotland (and no other team) reaching either the semis or the final.
“If the teams were knocked out at the semis, then the extension would not apply to the final. The extension also does not apply to off-licences or off-sales from on-licensed premises, nor to regulated entertainment (DJs and live music, for example). Late-night refreshment would only be extended in premises also licensed for on-sales of alcohol.”
CAMRA chairman, Nik Antona, said: “CAMRA was pleased to support this extension when it was first proposed, and it’s great to see government listen to consumers and the on-trade, and back our local pubs and clubs in this way.
“Cheering on your team, in the atmosphere of the pub, surrounded by friends and local community, is an experience that you can’t get anywhere else. Recognising the unique nature of the pub in this way is a much-needed boost for licensees, who have faced an uphill struggle to remain profitable in recent years in the face of spiralling costs.
“I know Parliament is currently looking at making this kind of licensing extension easier in the future, which CAMRA strongly supports. Creating a more responsive mechanism for licensing hours alterations would let pub-goers celebrate the full range and diversity of UK sporting achievement, not just the men’s Euros 2024.”
