The Licensing Act 2003 (UEFA European Football Championship Licensing Hours) Order 2024

Statutory Instruments

2024 No. 701

Licences And Licensing, England And Wales

The Licensing Act 2003 (UEFA European Football Championship Licensing Hours) Order 2024

Made

24th May 2024

Coming into force

25th May 2024

The Secretary of State makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 172(1) and (3) and 197(2)(b) of the Licensing Act 2003(1).

The Secretary of State considers that the celebration period in relation to which this Order is made marks an occasion of exceptional national significance.

The Secretary of State has consulted such persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate in accordance with section 172(4) of the Licensing Act 2003.

In accordance with section 197(4)(2) of the Licensing Act 2003, a draft of this Order has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

Citation, commencement, interpretation and extent

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Licensing Act 2003 (UEFA European Football Championship Licensing Hours) Order 2024(3) and comes into force on the day after the day on which it is made.

(2) In this Order—

“celebration period” means the period beginning with 8th July 2024 and ending on 15th July 2024;

“home nation team” means a men’s senior football team representing England or Scotland;

“specified relaxation period” means the parts of the celebration period set out in article 2;

“tournament” means the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship(4) held in Germany.

(3) This Order extends to England and Wales.

Specified times

2.  For the purposes of article 3, the “specified times” are—

(a) the period of two hours beginning at 11 p.m. on the day of the tournament semi-final match, which is scheduled to take place on 9thJuly 2024, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

(b) the period of two hours beginning at 11 p.m. on the day of the tournament semi-final match, which is scheduled to take place on 10th July 2024, provided that a home nation team plays in that match; and

(c) the period of two hours beginning at 11 p.m. on the day of the final match of the tournament, which is scheduled to take place on 14thJuly 2024, provided that a home nation team plays in that match.

Licensing hours

3.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), premises licences(5) and club premises certificates(6) to which paragraph (2) applies have effect (to the extent that it is not already the case) during the specified relaxation period as if the specified times were included in the opening hours(7).

(2) This paragraph applies to premises licences and club premises certificates by virtue of which the opening hours immediately precede or continue into the specified times.

(3) The opening hours are not to be treated by virtue of paragraph (1) as including the specified times insofar as they relate to the use of premises for—

(a) the sale by retail of alcohol for consumption off the premises;

(b) the supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club to, or to the order of, a member of the club for consumption off the premises; or

(c) the provision of regulated entertainment.

(4) In relation to the use of premises for the provision of late night refreshment(8), the opening hours are only to be treated by virtue of paragraph (1) as including the specified times if the premises may also be used at those times for—

(a) the sale by retail of alcohol for consumption on the premises; or

(b) the supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club to, or to the order of, a member of the club for consumption on the premises.

Sharpe

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Home Office

24th May 2024

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order is made under section 172 of the Licensing Act 2003 (c.17) (“the 2003 Act”). It relates to the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship to be held in Germany from 14th June 2024 to 14th July 2024. In publicity, the tournament is often referred to as “UEFA Euro 2024”.

The Secretary of State considers the climax of the tournament in its final week to be a celebration period for the purposes of section 172(1) of the 2003 Act. This Order provides for premises licences and club premises certificates to have effect during the specified times (to the extent that this is not already the case) as if the specified times were included in the opening hours under the licence or certificate.

The specified times are set out in article 2 and will only apply if a men’s senior team representing England or Scotland (“a home nation team”) plays in a specified match.

Article 3(2) provides that the Order only applies to licences and certificates which authorise licensable activities to be carried on up to or after the beginning of the period of the specified times.

Article 3(3) provides that the Order does not apply to—

(a) the sale by retail of alcohol for consumption off the premises,

(b) the supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club to, or to the order of, a member of the club for consumption off the premises, or

(c) the provision of regulated entertainment.

Article 3(4) provides that the Order permits premises to be used for the provision of late night refreshment at the specified times only if at those times the premises may also be used for the sale or supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen. An economic note is annexed to the Explanatory Memorandum which is available alongside this instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk and is also available from the Alcohol Policy Team of the Home Office, 2 Marsham Street, SW1P 4DF.

(1)

2003 c. 17.

(2)

Amendments have been made to section 197 of the Licensing Act 2003 (c. 17) but none is relevant.

(3)

The initials “UEFA” refer to the Union of European Football Associations of Route de Genève 46, 1260 Nyon, Switzerland which is an organisation entered in the register of companies under the Swiss Civil Code with registration number CH 550-1017474-1.

(4)

The tournament is commonly referred to as “UEFA Euro 2024”.

(5)

See section 11 of the Licensing Act 2003 for the definition of “premises licence”.

(6)

See section 60 of the Licensing Act 2003 for the definition of “club premises certificate”.

(7)

See section 172(5) of the Licensing Act 2003 for the definition of “opening hours”.

(8)

See paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 2 to the Licensing Act 2003 for the definition of “late night refreshment”. Paragraph 1(1) was amended by section 71 of the Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20).