Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 – Local producer’s licence: sales not on licensed premises
Article 52D of the Licensing (NI) Order 1996 (the Order) permits local producers of intoxicating liquor, who have been granted a liquor licence by the courts under Article 5(1)(m) of the Order, to sell their own products for consumption off the premises, at a place which is not licensed for the sale of alcoholic drinks in any way.
Conditions to be satisfied
The sale must be for consumption away from that place and ancillary to an event being held at that place which is open to the public and being held to promote food, drink or craftwork produced in Northern Ireland or relates to agriculture in Northern Ireland, and which is of importance to the area of Northern Ireland in which it is being held.
There are three conditions which must be satisfied prior to alcohol being sold at the event:
- the Department, in response to a request made by the person organising the event, has published a statement that, in its opinion, the event:
- is being held to promote food, drink or craftwork produced in Northern Ireland or relates to agriculture in Northern Ireland; and
- is of importance to the area of Northern Ireland in which it is being held.
- a senior police officer, in response to a request made by the person organising the event, has given the person written approval for intoxicating liquor to be sold at the event for consumption away from the place where the event is being held.
- a senior police officer, in response to a request made by the holder of the local producer’s licence, has given the holder written approval for the sale by holder, or a servant or agent, of intoxicating liquor at the event.
All requests can be made at the same time, but must be made at least 2 weeks before the day of the event, or the first day of the event, however event organisers are encouraged to make their request to the Department at the earliest opportunity.
Requests should be submitted to the Department for Communities’ Social Policy Unit.
Further details are available on pages 14 and 15 in the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2021- Guide.
Anyone who would like to discuss a request for an event may contact officials using the email address above or using the contact details within the Guide.
Statement
Under Article 52D(2) of the Licensing (NI) Order 1996 – local producer’s licence: sales not on licensed premises, the Department for Communities is of the opinion that the following event is:
- being held to promote food, drink or craftwork produced in Northern Ireland, or relates to agriculture in Northern Ireland; and
- of importance to the area in Northern Ireland in which the event is being held.
| Name of event | Location of event | Date of event |
|---|---|---|
| Belfast Christmas Market | Grounds of City Hall, Belfast | 15 November - 22 December 2025 |
| Greyabbey Artisan Markets | Greyabbey Village Hall | 16 November 2025 |
| Georgian Day | Armagh City Centre and on The Mall in Armagh | 29 November 2025 |
| Artisan Markets Knockagh | Knockagh View Equestrian Centre, Greenisland | 30 November 2025 |
| Roe Valley Speciality Market | Limavady Drumceatt Square | 6 December 2025 |
| Ballymoney Country Markets | Castlecroft Square, Ballymoney | 12 December 2025 |