FINNIE- PUBS MUST FOLLOW LICENSING CHANGES

Written by Ross Finnie on Tue 16th Jun 2009

FINNIE- PUBS MUST FOLLOW LICENSING CHANGES

West of Scotland Liberal Democrat MSP Ross Finnie has urged local publican's to follow the new licensing laws that come into effect in September.

Under the new act, all venues must have a licensed premises manager, the person who authorises alcohol sales, by the time the law kicks in on September 1st, or they will not be permitted to open. If they still have no licensed premises manager by December 1st the business is deemed to have lost its licence. In Renfrewshire Licensing Board 81.6% of applications have been lodged, 18.4% have not been lodged.

Commenting Mr Finnie said:

"The owners of licensed premises in Renfrewshire must realise the law changes been brought in on September 1st are to strengthen existing licensing laws and are here to stay.

"The 18.4% of licensed premises in Renfrewshire that have not lodged applications must do so immediately.

"The changes being brought in on September 1st must only be the start if we are to tackle our alcohol problems. The people of Renfrewshire must realise that alcohol is not only a problem with the young or deprived, but it is affecting our entire society.

"The strengthening of licensing laws is a good start, but much more has to be done to tackle Renfrewshire's alcohol addiction.

"The Scottish Government must abandon its ridiculous plan to raise the age to buy alcohol from off sales to 21 and work to secure an alcohol strategy that will actually be effective."

Ends