LICENSING

CHALLENGE 25 AGE VERIFICATION: HAVE A PROPER POLICY

Most people now recognise the phrase “Challenge 25”. The legal age for consumption of alcohol is still 18 but your licence now has a condition that requires you to verify the age of anyone who looks under 25. Although there is no specific requirement to have this policy in writing, it is sensible to have it down on paper.

Attention To Personal

When working on licensed premises you must have your original personal licence available to show to the authorities on request. A copy will not suffice. If your licensing board do not issue photocard IDs consider keeping your personal licence in the licensing file or safe at your place of work. Also remember you must update the licensing board of changes to your personal info (e.g. name change if married/ divorced or change to address) or if you have been convicted of an offence with one month of the occurrence.

RELATIONS WITH POLICE AND LSOs

rather unusually the legislation includes a “sunbset clause”. The effect of this clause is that minimum pricing will be withdrawn unless Holyrood passes a renewal Bill within six years of the Act coming into force. This obliges the Government to assess whether it has achieved its aim of improving health. Whilst the minimum unit price only applies to Scotland, Wales have already signalled intent to follow suit and pressure is growing for England to follow.

How else can you prove that you have one?

There are a number of forms of acceptable ID including a European Photo Driver’s Licence, UK Passport and Pass Card. EU national identity cards, biometric immigration documents, and military ID. However, whilst staff can familiarise themselves with all of these documents by looking at www. challenge25.com, in my experience it is safer to refuse a sale unless you are 100% sure that the ID is genuine, and if you don’t know what a military ID looks like how can you know it is real?

It is incredibly important that the licensed trade work to have a positive, respectful relationship with police officers and LSOs. Remember that police and LSOs can enter and inspect your premises at any time and have the right to ask for documentation such as the premises licence or personal licences or staff, or to see staff training records. Despite recent tensions between the licensed trade and Police Scotland, my advice is always to contact the police if there has been an incident on your premises. Keep an incident book and record any issues. Co-operate with the Police and build positive relations with your local officers as well as licensing officers.

Mup Is Here And You Must Comply

All licensed premises will need to ensure they comply and do not sell alcohol below the permitted level. A breach could not only see the premises licence reviewed by the licensing board but the licence holder could also face prosecution. We therefore expect the sale of scientific calculators to spike in Scotland! It is worth noting that

Building on the minimum staff training requirement (highlighted on page 35) and quoting from the entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, “train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough, so they don’t want to”. As with all other aspects you should risk assess your business from a licensing viewpoint. How better can you serve your customers, create a safe and welcoming environment and ensure that ultimately you have all bases covered, than by upskilling your staff. Hospitality is moving away from its erroneous image as a stopgap for a transient student workforce. Professionalism in the sector is increasing year on year. Invest in training, whether it is

•Duty of care/ bystander training

•Conflict management

•Additional personal licence holders

•Wine/ spirits excellence training it will yield rewards, protect the business and improve the bottom line.

MANAGER CHANGES?

DON’T MESS AROUND

Every premises has a named Premises Manager (PM). This is the person whose name appears on the licence and is expected to be the day to day