The Government has recently announced a new code of conduct for alcohol retailers. This checklist will help you keep track of the implementation dates for the five new mandatory licensing conditions.

Mandatory licensing condition Coming into force
Banning promotions such as “all you can drink for £10” or “women drink free” deals. 6 April 2010
Banning “dentist’s chairs” where alcohol is poured directly into the mouths of customers. 6 April 2010
Ensuring free tap water is available for all customers. 6 April 2010
Making sure all sellers of alcohol have an age-verification policy in place. 1 October 2010
Ensuring small measures of alcoholic drinks are made available to customers. 1 October 2010

Penalties for breaching the code

Premises that breach any of the above conditions will risk a range of sanctions, including:

  • Having additional conditions imposed on their licence.
  • Losing their licence.
  • A maximum £20,000 fine and/or six months imprisonment.

More information

If you have any questions about the content of this e-mail please contact Richard Hemingway.

The contents of this article are for the purposes of general awareness only. They do not purport to constitute legal or professional advice. The law may have changed since this article was published. Readers should not act on the basis of the information included and should take appropriate professional advice upon their own particular circumstances.