The Registration of Clubs (Northern Ireland) Order 1996

N.I.

Unlawful supply and consumption, etc., in registered clubs N.I.

28.—(1) Intoxicating liquor shall not, in a registered club,—

(a) be supplied to, or obtained or consumed by, any person other than a member or a guest of a member or an employee of the club; or

(b) without prejudice to Article 34, be supplied to, or obtained or consumed by, any person in contravention of any provision of this Order or of the rules of the club.

(2) If paragraph (1) is contravened—

(a) the registered club; and

(b) the person supplying, obtaining or consuming the intoxicating liquor; and

(c) any other person permitting that person to supply, obtain or consume the intoxicating liquor;

shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.

Unauthorised persons in certain parts of club premises N.I.

29.—(1) Every person, other than—

(a) a member of the club;

(b) a guest of a member of the club;

(c) a person on the premises of the club for purposes connected with his trade, profession or employment (including employment by the club);

who is found in any part of the premises of a registered club in which intoxicating liquor is usually supplied, kept for supply or consumed shall, unless he proves that he is there for a lawful purpose, be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

(2) Every registered club authorising or permitting any person to be on any part of premises as mentioned in paragraph (1) and which does not prove that he is there for a lawful purpose shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

Functions in registered clubs N.I.

30.—(1) A registered club shall not hold, in the premises of the club, any function unless—

(a) the function is for the benefit of the club as a whole;

(b) the function is related to the objects of the club;

(c) the function is organised by the club; and

(d) only members of the club and their guests are present at the function.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any function—

(a) where the whole proceeds of the function, after deducting the expenses of the function, are devoted to charitable or benevolent purposes; or

(b) which is organised by a registered club for a member and at which only the member and his guests are present.

(3) If paragraph (1) is contravened—

(a) the registered club; and

(b) every official of the club at the time of the contravention;

shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

(4) In any proceedings for an offence by reason of a contravention of paragraph (1) it shall be a defence for a person to prove that he exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of such an offence.

(5) In this Article, “club” includes any separate branch or section of a club.

Misconduct of registered clubs N.I.

31.—(1) Where, because of the manner in which a registered club is being managed or carried on, registration of the club is cancelled on a ground mentioned in Article 8(3)(c)(i) or (4)(b) or (c), every official of the club shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(2) In any proceedings for an offence under paragraph (1) it shall be a defence for a person to prove that he exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of such an offence.

(3) Where any of the provisions specified in Schedule 1 (other than paragraph 14) which are included in the rules of a registered club are contravened—

(a) the registered club; and

(b) every official of the club at the time of the contravention;

shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

[F1 Irresponsible drinks promotions N.I.

31A— (1) Regulations may prohibit or restrict a registered club from carrying on an irresponsible drinks promotion on or in connection with the premises of the club.

(2) A drinks promotion is irresponsible if it—

(a) relates specifically to any intoxicating liquor likely to appeal largely to persons under the age of 18,

(b) involves the supply of any intoxicating liquor free of charge or at a reduced price on the purchase of one or more drinks (whether or not intoxicating liquor),

(c) involves the supply free of charge or at a reduced price of one or more extra measures of intoxicating liquor on the purchase of one or more measures of the liquor,

(d) involves the supply of unlimited amounts of intoxicating liquor for a fixed charge (including any charge for entry to the premises),

(e) encourages, or seeks to encourage, a person to obtain or consume a larger measure of intoxicating liquor than the person had otherwise intended to obtain or consume,

(f) is based on the strength of any intoxicating liquor,

(g) rewards or encourages, or seeks to reward or encourage, consuming intoxicating liquor quickly, or

(h) offers intoxicating liquor as a reward or prize, unless the liquor is in a sealed container and consumed off the premises.

(3) Regulations may modify paragraph (2) so as to—

(a) add further descriptions of drinks promotions,

(b) modify any of the descriptions of drinks promotions for the time being listed in it, or

(c) extend or restrict the application of any of those descriptions of drinks promotions.

(4) If any provision of regulations under this Article is contravened—

(a) the registered club,

(b) every official of the club at the time of the contravention, and

(c) any other person permitting the contravention,

is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(5) Regulations shall not be made under this Article unless a draft of the regulations has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Assembly.

(6) In this Article “drinks promotion” means, in relation to the premises of a registered club, any activity which promotes, or seeks to promote, the obtaining or consumption of any intoxicating liquor on the premises.]

F1 Art. 31A inserted (1.1.2013 for specified purposes) by Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (c. 18), ss. 10, 18; S.R. 2012/405, art. 2, Sch.