Background and policy objectives
3.The Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (“the principal Order”) requires a person wishing to sell alcohol in the course of business to hold a licence. A licence may be granted in respect of premises such as public houses, off-licences, hotels, guest houses, restaurants, conference centres and places of public entertainment.
4.The building of the Odyssey Arena in Belfast triggered consideration of the need to amend the principal Order. Indoor arenas are an entirely new type of facility for Northern Ireland and were not envisaged when the current legislation was being formulated. An application for a liquor licence cannot, therefore, be made for such premises and the Order would enable such an application to be made.