An inquiry into licensing laws in Scotland by Holyrood’s local government and communities committee has heard that the policy discouraging new pubs in areas where a high proportion of people suffer from alcohol-related illness is ineffective.

The Times reported that several licensing boards have told the local government and communities committee that there has been no reduction in alcohol-related harm or antisocial behaviour in areas where this policy has been applied because people simply go elsewhere or buy their alcohol in off-licences.

According to the report, Dumfries and Galloway Licensing Board said: “The causal link between consumption of alcohol and the place where it was sold is difficult to prove . . . sales could take place online and/or at an outlet out with a board area. The sale of alcohol is only one factor in this consideration. Other factors are also relevant including poverty, deprivation, illicit drugs, social isolation, smoking and substandard, poor housing.”

Inverclyde Licensing Board recently lifted restrictions on an area of overprovision after police and the NHS found “no discernible decrease in figures for the area covered by over-provision over the five-year period”.

Glasgow Licensing Board said that some affected areas had no licensed premises, making it hard to reject plans.

Source: The Times

Inverclyde Licensing Board recently lifted restrictions on an area of overprovision after police and the NHS found “no discernible decrease in figures for the area covered by over-provision over the five-year period”.

Glasgow Licensing Board said that some affected areas had no licensed premises, making it hard to reject plans.

Source: The Times

An inquiry into licensing laws in Scotland by Holyrood’s local government and communities committee has heard that the policy discouraging new pubs in areas where a high proportion of people suffer from alcohol-related illness is ineffective.

The Times reported that several licensing boards have told the local government and communities committee that there has been no reduction in alcohol-related harm or antisocial behaviour in areas where this policy has been applied because people simply go elsewhere or buy their alcohol in off-licences.

According to the report, Dumfries and Galloway Licensing Board said: “The causal link between consumption of alcohol and the place where it was sold is difficult to prove . . . sales could take place online and/or at an outlet out with a board area. The sale of alcohol is only one factor in this consideration. Other factors are also relevant including poverty, deprivation, illicit drugs, social isolation, smoking and substandard, poor housing.”