The Licensing Act 2003: A step in the right direction?

Abstract

The Licensing Act 2003 (covering England and Wales) introduced greater flexibility to the UK licensing laws, including the possibility of 24‐h licenses. This paper reports a nation wide survey of 225 (63%) local authority chairs of licensing committees/senior members of licensing teams in England evaluating the short‐term impact of the Act. A cumulative impact (saturation) area was only declared in 38 (17%) local authorities. Extended hours applications were more common than new applications in both on‐ and off–licensed premises. The perception of those surveyed was of ‘no change’ in the following alcohol‐related variables; public noise levels (n = 133, 59%) violence and fights (n = 130, 60%), under‐aged drinking (n = 143, 67%), crime (n = 141, 68%), and drink‐driving (n = 157, 86%). Contrary to the picture often presented in certain parts of the mass‐media, the impact of the Licensing Act appears to be neutral. However, these are likely to be the result of a number of intervening factors, rather than the change to a more liberalized licensing regime. The role of the police would seem to be fundamental. Future research will need to disentangle the impact of these intervening factors and it will be a number of years before the impact of these changes can be assessed.

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