Closed consultation

Contingent relaxation of licensing hours during the semi-final and final of the 2024 UEFA European Championship (accessible)

Published 27 November 2023

Applies to England and Wales

Introduction

This paper sets out for consultation proposals to relax the licensing hours for certain matches (the semi-final and final) of the 2024 UEFA European Championship contingent on the England men’s national football team and/or the Wales men’s national football team and/or the Scotland men’s national football team playing in those matches. The consultation is aimed at members of the public, local licensing authorities, licensed premises, and other interested parties in England and Wales where these proposals apply.

Copies of the consultation are being sent to:

• Local Government Association
• Welsh Local Government Association
• National Association of Licensing Enforcement Officers
• Institute of Licensing
• National Organisation of Residents Associations
• National Police Chiefs Council
• Association of Police and Crime Commissioners
• British Beer and Pub Association
• Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers
• Wine and Spirits Trade Association
• Alcohol Health Alliance
• Alcohol Research and Concern
• Institute of Alcohol Studies

However, this list is not meant to be exhaustive or exclusive and responses are welcomed from anyone with an interest in or views on the subject covered by this paper.

The proposals

1. The government is consulting on whether to relax licensing hours nationally to mark certain matches of the 2024 UEFA European Championships (Euro 2024) or whether to rely on the existing system of Temporary Event Notices (TENs) which gives the local police and environmental health officers a say in decisions on whether local premises should extend their licensing hours, based on local circumstances.

2. The proposal is to extend licensing hours if the England men’s national football team (England) and/or the Wales men’s national football team (Wales) and/or the Scotland men’s national football team (Scotland) is successful in reaching the semi-final of Euro 2024 and if either team subsequently reach the final of that tournament.  The government proposes to make a licensing hours order under section 172 of the Licensing Act 2003 which would contingently extend opening hours on the days of the semi-final (9 and/or 10 July) and final (14 July) so that they would end at 1am (early in the morning after the matches have taken place) rather than 11pm on the day of the matches for the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises.

3. The government has decided that, were it to relax licensing hours nationally following this consultation, this would be contingent on England and/or Wales and/or Scotland reaching the semi-final of the tournament, with a further extension should any of these teams then reach the final. No extension would come into place on any date during the tournament should the aforementioned team(s) not participate in those matches. If the aforementioned team(s) reach the semi-final, but are unsuccessful in that match, the extension would only apply to the relevant semi-final match, and hours would not then be extended for the final.

4. Any extension would relate to the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises only and the provision of late-night refreshment in on-trade licensed premises. The government believes that the on-trade provision of late-night refreshment in licensed premises would be appropriate to accompany a relaxation of alcohol licensing hours for the relevant Euro 2024 matches, not least to support people to drink responsibly.

5. The government considers that any national relaxation of licensing hours should not apply to the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises (for instance in supermarkets and off-licences) as anyone wishing to mark the occasion at home will be able to buy alcohol during normal shopping hours. Late-night refreshment venues, by definition, are already licensed to open late at night and would not benefit from a relaxation in licensing hours. Unlicensed premises would also not benefit from a relaxation in licensing hours and would still need to give a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) to undertake licensable activities.

6. The purpose of any national relaxation of licensing hours during Euro 2024 would be to enable all pubs and other on-trade premises to sell alcohol and late night refreshment to people watching the relevant matches live. Any relaxation would therefore not cover regulated entertainment as this relaxation would relate specifically to Euro 2024.

7. The consultation asks for views on whether licensing hours should be relaxed during certain matches of Euro 2024. The options presented in the consultation seek to enable pubs and other on-trade premises to sell alcohol and late night refreshment throughout the duration of live matches with some additional time whilst balancing concerns about public order. Licensing hours would not be relaxed beyond 1am for any of the matches which are all due to kick off at 8pm UK time. This would allow for 3 hours of playing time (including 30 minutes for extra time and 20 minutes for penalties), with time for possible post-match celebrations.

8. After these licensed hours, premises would not be able to sell alcohol or late night refreshment under the licensing hours order. However, premises may be able to allow customers to remain on the premises beyond the extended hours and could give a TEN if they wished to open later.

9. This would apply to premises in England and Wales only. Licensing is a devolved matter in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Background

10. Under section 172 of the Licensing Act 2003 (the act), the Secretary of State may make an order relaxing licensing hours for licensed premises in relation to a ‘celebration period’ to mark an occasion of ‘exceptional international, national or local significance’. A ‘licensing hours order’ can be used to relax licensing hours in licensed premises during a period not exceeding 4 days. An order may be applied to all licensed premises in England and Wales or only to premises in one or more specific area. Other variables in the order are the dates, times and licensable activities to which it applies. Since the introduction of the act, this national power has been used to mark His Majesty’s Coronation on 6 May 2023, the Late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, the Royal Weddings in 2018 and 2011, the Late Queen’s 90th Birthday celebrations in 2016, the Late Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012. The power was also used during the World Cup in 2014 and the 2020 UEFA European Championship final.

11. Should England and/or Wales and/or Scotland reach the semi-final of Euro 2024, and subsequently reach the final, this will be a sporting event of national celebration and it is likely that many pubs and other licensed premises in England and Wales will wish to open later to ensure full coverage of the match and any possible post-match celebrations. Football is recognised as a particularly high profile sport and is seen by many to be the national game in the United Kingdom.

12. Licence holders currently have the option of using a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) to extend their opening hours for a limited period. A TEN costs £21 and must be submitted at least 10 working days before the event begins. However, they are subject to certain annual limits and may be refused if the police object on the grounds of crime and disorder. The TENs regime also allows people or organisations without existing licenses to give notice that they intend to sell alcohol at times when this would not otherwise be authorised on a ‘one-off’ limited basis. This system is designed to balance giving people and organisations flexibility in selling alcohol and carrying on other licensed activities, whilst protecting local people from the problems this can cause, including crime and disorder and public nuisance.

13. There are, however, potential risks to relaxing licensing hours such as the impact on enforcement agencies. Alcohol-related crime and disorder accounts for more than half the societal costs of alcohol, although the number of alcohol-related violent incidents have been falling consistently. During the 2022 World Cup hosted in Qatar, police reported 573 incidents in England and Wales connected to the tournament. Police made 123 arrests relating to these incidents (of which 101 were categorised as “football-related” under the definition of the Football Spectators Act 1989). 91% of reported incidents occurred in relation to one of the seven England or Wales matches. During Euro 2016 (the last overseas UEFA European Championship) police reported 453 incidents and 124 arrests in England and Wales connected to the tournament. The TEN regime (conversely to a licensing hours order) provides for local discretion, with the police or environmental health authorities able to object to (or in the case of a late TEN, prevent) a TEN on the basis of local circumstances because of a negative effect on any of the 4 licensing objectives. This consultation will allow the police time to prepare in advance and allow other partners to respond accordingly.

14. Whilst considering whether or not to relax the licensing hours nationally, the government will balance reducing burdens on businesses wishing to watch and celebrate the England and Wales teams in Euro 2024 with protecting the public from potential crime and disorder and public nuisance late at night.

Continue to survey.

Complaints or comments

If you have any complaints or comments about the consultation process you should contact the Home Office at :

Licensing Hours Consultation
Alcohol Team, 5th Floor Fry Building
Home Office
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

Email: alcohollicensingconsultations@homeoffice.gov.uk

Extra copies

Further paper copies of this consultation can be obtained from the above address.

Publication of response

A paper summarising the responses to this consultation will be published. The response paper will be available online at Gov.UK.

Representative groups

Representative groups are asked to give a summary of the people and organisations they represent when they respond.

Confidentiality

Information provided in response to this consultation, including personal information, may be published or disclosed in accordance with the access to information regimes (these are primarily the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004).

If you want the information that you provide to be treated as confidential, please be aware that, under the FOIA, there is a statutory Code of Practice with which public authorities must comply and which deals, amongst other things, with obligations of confidence. In view of this it would be helpful if you could explain to us why you regard the information you have provided as confidential. If we receive a request for disclosure of the information we will take full account of your explanation, but we cannot give an assurance that confidentiality can be maintained in all circumstances. An automatic confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system will not, of itself, be regarded as binding on the Home Office.

The Home Office will process your personal data in accordance with the DPA and in the majority of circumstances this will mean that your personal data will not be disclosed to third parties.

Consultation principles

The principles that government departments and other public bodies should adopt for engaging stakeholders when developing policy and legislation are set out in the consultation principles.