The Licensing (Notice Relating to Local Producer’s Premises - Authorisation for On-Sales) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 - screening

The Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 (the Act) amends the Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 to allow local producers of alcoholic drinks to apply to the court for a liquor licence.

A licence granted to a local producer authorises them to sell their alcoholic drinks for consumption off the premises only. Licence holders may be granted a suitability order by the court for a particular part of their premises to allow consumption in that part.  Sales in these circumstances are permitted on 104 occasions per year, between the hours of 4pm and 10pm and are provided by authorisation granted by the court.

The aim of this policy is that the holder of a local producer’s licence must display, at all times, a notice detailing the conditions of the licence held in the part of the premises granted a suitability order. This is a new policy and relates to a new category of liquor licence and the notice the licence holder is required by law to display at the time they sell their alcoholic drinks. The public would not be aware of the conditions of the licence held at the point of sale and the aim of the notice is to ensure awareness and compliance.