Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 - Registration of Clubs (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 - codes of practice
The Department for Communities will approve a relevant code of practice relating to the display, sale, supply, promotion and consumption of alcoholic drinks in licensed premises and registered clubs. The relevant code of practice will come into operation on 1 January 2026.
Background
The Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 added Article 76F to the Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 and Article 41K to the Registration of Clubs (Northern Ireland) Order 1996. These Articles provide the Department for Communities with the power to approve a relevant code of practice produced by a person or group who have a relevant interest in matters surrounding alcoholic drinks.
The code of practice will provide guidance to licence holders and registered clubs’ officials on best practice and the basic standards expected in the industry regarding the display, sale, supply or promotion of alcoholic drinks on their respective premises.
Approved code of practice
The Department will approve a code which has been produced by the Responsible Retailing Code Joint Industry Working Group on behalf of Hospitality Ulster, NI Federation of Clubs, NI Hotels Federation, NI Retail Consortium and Retail NI.
The code, which will be approved on 1 January 2026, has been published on the Responsible Retailing Code NI website.
This intervening period is intended to give licence holders and registered clubs time to familiarise themselves with the code and their responsibilities under it.
From 1 January 2026, a court must be satisfied that when applying for a liquor licence or club registration that prospective licence holders and club officials are aware of their responsibilities, and in the case of renewal applications, that they have been complying with the code.