Section 118: Persistently selling alcohol to children
345.Section 147A of the Licensing Act 2003 makes it an offence for a premises licence holder, or person who has given a temporary event notice, to sell alcohol on two or more occasions in a three month period to a child. On conviction, a person is liable to a fine not exceeding £10,000. This amendment increases the maximum fine to £20,000.
346.Section 169A of the Act enables the police and trading standards officers to issue a closure notice to a person in relation to whom there is evidence that he has committed an offence under section 147A of the Act and for which there is a reasonable prospect of conviction. The closure notice discharges the person from any further criminal liability but prevents him from selling alcohol for the period specified in the notice. This amendment increases that period from a maximum of 48 hours to a period of between 48 hours and 336 hours.
347.Subsections (4) and (5) make provision for the application of these amendments.