Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

Irresponsible drinks promotions

4.  After Article 57 of the Licensing Order insert—

“Irresponsible drinks promotions

57A.— (1) Regulations may prohibit or restrict the holder of a licence or the licence holder’s servant or agent from carrying on an irresponsible drinks promotion on or in connection with the licensed premises.

(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 buy or consume a larger measure of intoxicating liquor than the person had otherwise intended to buy 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) Sub-paragraphs (b) to (d) of paragraph (2) apply only to a drinks promotion carried on in relation to intoxicating liquor sold for consumption on the premises.

(4) Regulations may modify paragraph (2) or (3) 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.

(5) A person who contravenes any provision of regulations made under this Article is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(6) 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.

(7) In this Article “drinks promotion” means, in relation to any licensed premises, any activity which promotes, or seeks to promote, the buying or consumption of any intoxicating liquor on the premises.”.