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  • Department for Communities’ response to the report of the Independent Review of the Liquor Licensing System in Northern Ireland, including the Surrender Principle

    Topics:
    • Law and legislation, 
    • Alcohol licensing and registration of clubs

    Date published: 18 November 2025

    Section 23 of the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 (“the 2021 Act”) placed a duty on the Department for Communities to appoint an independent person to undertake a review of the liquor licensing system.

    The Report of the Independent Review of the Liquor Licensing System in Northern Ireland, including the Surrender Principle, carried out by a consortium of universities led by the University of Stirling, was published on 21 February 2025:

    • Report of the Independent Review of the Liquor Licensing System in NI

    The legislation also requires DfC to publish a plan setting out how it will respond to the report. DfC has carefully considered the report’s findings and each of its 26 recommendations, and this response is published in furtherance of that obligation.

    Documents

    • Department for Communities’ response to the report of the Independent Review of the Liquor Licensing System in Northern Ireland, including the Surrender PrincipleAdobe PDF (352.24 KB)
    • Department for Communities’ response to the report of the Independent Review of the Liquor Licensing System in Northern Ireland, including the Surrender Principle - Executive SummaryAdobe PDF (276.89 KB)
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