Explanatory Memorandum

Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2021

2021 CHAPTER 7

26 August 2021

Commentary on Sections

Part 1.Licensing

Section 6: Extension of “drinking-up time”

This section amends Article 46 of the Licensing Order (Exceptions from prohibition of sale etc., of intoxicating liquor outside permitted hours).

Subsection (1) amends Article 46(1) which provides for the duration of the “drinking-up time” at the end of normal opening hours or later opening in licensed premises, substituting the current “30 minutes” with “60 minutes”.

Subsection (2) provides the Department with a power to make regulations to allow “drinking-up time” to revert to 30 minutes. The regulations cannot come into operation unless and until approved by the Assembly.