It really isn’t long. That marvellous time which comes around every 4 years and it’s time once again for the World Cup! This time it is in South Africa which means that the timings of the matches are really quite civilised. Nonetheless there are things to consider in licensing terms.
Here are a few tips towards making sure that everything goes off without a hitch:
1. Although even the evening games should be finished by 10.30pm, there will be a possibility of later finishes including penalty shootouts in the knock out rounds. You need to be prepared for this and make sure that you have a terminal hour which is sufficiently late. If not then it needs to be rectified by the use of either a permanent variation or a Temporary Event Notice. You may want a Temporary Event Notice anyway to increase the variety of the entertainment offer at the premises in and around the World Cup. You don’t need any specific permission to show the games as it is live TV but you need to consider any other form of ancillary entertainment.
2. The whole thing is happening in the summer. Assuming that we have one (!), you may want to make use of outside areas. If you are expecting large numbers of people then you might want to erect an outside bar. If your outside area is not included within the red line on your licensing drawing then you will again need a Temporary Event Notice in order to do the temporary bar. It is probably wise to limit the Temporary Event Notice to the outside area itself rather than using up valuable Temporary Event Notices for the inside as well.
3. Do you have a capacity condition on your licence? If you do then it is most likely to come under strain during this period. Make sure you have the necessary staff and procedures in place to ensure that your capacity is not exceeded. Exceeding your capacity is one of the most serious breaches of Premises Licence condition that you can commit. Even if you do not have a stated capacity then Fire Safety Legislation requires you to undertake your own risk assessment as to the safe maximum occupancy of the premises. If you haven’t done so or indeed if you breach it, then you could find yourself falling foul of Fire Safety Legislation. This can be punished by the way of very heavy fines and could also lead to a Review of your Premises Licence.
4. Finally, this is an event during which people are likely to get a bit carried away and perhaps drink too much. You need to be very conscious of issues of drunkenness and also underage drinking. The enforcers will undoubtedly have this very high on their agenda. Make sure that you have taken the time to refresh all staff training with regards to drunkenness and underage selling. Document it carefully and ensure that management walk the floor to make sure that staff are following their training.
Other than that, here’s to a successful tournament!
We believe the law to be correct at the time of publishing this article. Interpretations of the law change very rapidly and it is always advisable to check with us before taking any major step. Graeme Cushion, Licensing Solicitor at Poppleston Allen. www.popall.co.uk
Graeme is a partner with Poppleston Allen and has many years experience in Liquor and Entertainment Licensing and criminal law. Graeme specialises for the firm in criminal and regulatory crime ancillary to licensing. This involves crimes related to serving alcohol (underage sales and drunkenness), Health and Safety, Food Safety and Disability Discrimination.