Agenda item
Other Business
Minimum Unit Pricing
1 year on for information seehttps://www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/campaigns-policy/minimum-pricing/ .
Within this page there are useful links including:Minimum unit pricing one year on - Briefing on minimum unit pricing - Minimum unit pricing mythbuster
Minutes:
7.1 Minimum Unit Pricing
With reference to paragraph 5 of the minute of 19 March 2019 regarding the ongoing evaluation of the first year of operation of the MUP strategy, the following link to the Alcohol Focus site had been provided with the agenda for information: https://www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/campaigns-policy/minimum-pricing/. The first anniversary of the implementation of MUP in Scotland was on 1 May 2019. It was noted that it was too early to conclude that the introduction of MUP had reduced alcohol consumption in Scotland. The key question on sales was whether the number of units of alcohol sold had decreased. This was difficult to establish as data was based on volume sold rather than units. The Alcohol Focus site provided some clarification about many myths and anecdotal evidence about MUP which were currently circulating in the media. In a discussion of any effects of MUP noticed in the trade, Mr Campbell said it appeared to be beneficial to the smaller off-licence shops as people appeared to be shopping locally now that there were no promotions in supermarkets and now that the price of previously lower priced products had increased.
DECISION
NOTED
7.2 Occasional Licence fee – consultation
Mr Tunnah drew attention to a current Scottish Government consultation on reviewing the fee for occasional licences and considering a limit on the number and duration of occasional licences. Concerns had been raised that the current fee of £10 did not cover Councils’ administration costs and also that some applicants had sought to use the occasional licence process to apply for consecutive occasional licences as an alternative to a full premises licence. Members agreed that Mr Tunnah should send in a consultation response on behalf of the Local Licensing Forum and went on to discuss the questions asked. With regard to an increase in the fee it was felt that £10 was too low and that an increase to £50 would be reasonable and should not deter people from applying. With regard to the number of applications that could be made, the unanimous view was that this should not be limited. It was pointed out that for a genuine business or organisation that was holding events to raise money, for example a small catering business or a Village Hall committee, it would be unreasonable to place a restriction on the number of occasional licence applications made and thereby limit potential income from events.
DECISION
AGREED that Mr Tunnah send in a response to the above consultation on behalf of the Licensing Forum based on the views of members as expressed in the discussion.
7.3 Personal Licence Holder Renewal
With reference to paragraph 4 of the Minute of 23 October 2019, regarding the first batch of personal licences due for renewal on 1 September 2019, Mr Tunnah reported that there were a considerable number of personal licence holders from which renewal applications had not yet been received. If these were surrendered in theory any re-application would need to go to the Licensing Board for a decision. The potential, nationally, for a backlog of applications to be dealt with by Licensing Boards was being discussed by SOLAR (Society of Local Authority Lawyers and Administrators in Scotland). Mr Campbell referred to inconsistencies between Licensing Authorities in the way the renewals are managed and the date of the renewed licence in terms of whether this was the date of application or date of refresher training. Mr Tunnah advised that Scottish Borders were not issuing renewed licences until the renewal date in September. However he hoped for clarity from SOLAR.
DECISION
NOTED