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

Major events N.I.

7.—(1) After Article 48 of the Licensing Order (but before the following cross-heading) insert—

“Major event orders N.I.

Extension of permitted hours for major events

48A.— (1) Where the Department considers that an event which is to take place in Northern Ireland will attract significant public interest (whether throughout Northern Ireland or in certain areas only), it may make an order (a “major event order”) which—

(a) designates the event as a major event, and

(b) provides that, during the period specified in the order, the permitted hours for any place or premises to which the order applies are the hours specified in the order.

(2) A major event order may apply to—

(a) all licensed premises either in Northern Ireland as a whole or in the area or areas specified;

(b) all licensed premises of a specified kind either in Northern Ireland as a whole or in the area or areas specified;

(c) any place or premises for which an occasional licence has been granted and which is or are situated on the site where the event is to take place.

(3) In specifying an area for the purposes of paragraph (2)(a) or (b), a major event order may in particular do so by reference to the place or premises at which the event is to take place or the area in the vicinity of the place or premises.

(4) The Department may vary or revoke a major event order; and the circumstances in which it may revoke an order include, in a case where the period specified under paragraph (1)(b) includes two or more days, circumstances in which it considers it necessary to do so because of disorder, or expected disorder, at or in the vicinity of the place or premises at which the event is taking place.

(5) The period specified in a major event order may not include Christmas Day.

(6) The hours specified in a major event order are in addition to the hours permitted by any occasional licence, any order under Article 44 or 44A, any authorisation under Article 45 or any extension licence, which applies to a place or premises to which the major event order applies.

(7) If, in the case of premises to which an order under Article 44, 44A or 48 applies, the event designated by a major event order is to take place on a day which is not specified in an order under Article 44 or 44A or an extension licence, the major event order has effect as if that day were so specified.

(8) A major event order may make consequential, incidental or supplementary provision (including provision which modifies provisions of this Order for the purpose of giving effect to the major event order).

(9) Before making a major event order, the Department must consult such persons as it considers appropriate.

Major event order: conditions

48B.— (1) A major event order may impose conditions; and it may (without prejudice to the generality of section 17(5)(b)(ii) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954) impose conditions which, in particular, vary according to whether they relate to the sale of intoxicating liquor for consumption on, or for consumption off, a place or premises.

(2) A major event order may not authorise at any place or premises, other than the place or premises at which the event is to take place, the sale of intoxicating liquor for consumption off that place or premises.

(3) Accordingly, a major event order may, in so far as it applies to a place or premises for which an occasional licence has been granted, authorise during the period specified under Article 48A(1)(b) the sale of intoxicating liquor for consumption off the place or premises specified in the licence, despite the prohibition in Article 30(5)(b).

(4) Paragraphs (2) and (3) do not apply in the case of a place or premises for which an occasional licence has been granted to the holder of a licence for a restaurant.

(5) A major event order which authorises the sale of intoxicating liquor for consumption in a place or premises also authorises, during the first 60 minutes after the conclusion of the hours specified in the order, the consumption of intoxicating liquor in the place or premises.

(6) A major event order which authorises the sale of intoxicating liquor for consumption off any place or premises also authorises, during the first 60 minutes after the conclusion of the hours specified in the order, the taking of intoxicating liquor in a sealed container from the place or premises.

(7) Regulations under Article 46(4) may also modify paragraph (5) or (6) of this Article so as to substitute “30 minutes” for “60 minutes”.

(8) A major event order, in so far as it applies to premises of any of the kinds mentioned in Article 5(1), does not affect the requirement to comply with the conditions relating to the sale of intoxicating liquor which apply to premises of that kind.

(9) Any person acting in contravention of a condition imposed by a major event order is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.”.

(2) In Part 1 of Schedule 10A to the Licensing Order (penalty points for offences punishable with level 3 fine), at the appropriate place insert—

“48B(9)

Contravening condition of major event order

3-4”

Commencement Information

I1 S. 7 not in operation at Royal Assent, see s. 47(2)

I2 S. 7 in operation at 6.4.2022 by S.R. 2022/63, art. 2, Sch.