Government scraps plans for changes to personal licences

The government has announced it will not pursue its proposal to exchange personal licences for regionally defined rules.

In its consultation Personal Alcohol Licences: Enabling Targeted, Local Alternatives the government had proposed that instead of completely scrapping personal licences, they be replaced with local authority developed versions.

But these new plans has been met resistance from operators concerned about the lack a common standard.

BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds welcomed the decision: "It is very good news the government has listened to the industry, as the whole trade was united in opposition.

"Personal licences work well, setting a national standard which is supported by both local authorities and the police.

"They are important for the reputation of the industry, and are needed, as a nationally recognised qualification.

"The Government's intentions on deregulation are still very welcome; we will always be keen to work with them on the many other areas where action to reduce red tape is needed."

Ewen Macgregor, licensing partner and head of the hospitality and sector group at Bond Dickinson said the new proposals would have increased red tape on business.

"The proposals as laid out in the consultation document would have increased the financial and administrative burden on operators, and rather than reducing the red tape on businesses, it was very clear from the responses to the consultation that this burden would have increased," he added.