Robin Sheeran The Politics Show Northern Ireland

Last orders for licensing legislation?

The old saying 'when the drink's in the wit's out' is generally applied to the behaviour of the well-oiled toper, but it could equally be applied to the rules governing liquor licensing.

Pub hours seem to vary wildly in different parts of the UK and Ireland, and the practice of selling booze in petrol stations in the Republic can seem a tad shocking to the northern eye.

Now, the Government has raised a storm in a whisky tumbler by proposing to change the process for issuing liquor licences in Northern Ireland.

As it stands there is a fixed number of licences for pubs and off-licences in Northern Ireland. If you want to open a new pub you have to buy an existing licence.

You then surrender the licence to a court which decides whether to issue you with a new one.

Local councils responsible

Under the proposed new regulations responsibility for issuing licences will eventually be passed to local councils and the cap on the number of licences will be done away with.

This week on Politics Show from Northern Ireland, Rosy Billingham reports on the Government's proposals.

A total of 18 of the responses to the consultation process were in favour of removing the cap and abolishing the surrender of licences.

There were 863 responses opposed to the proposals.

Political persuasion

On June 27, a delegation of representatives from the DUP, Sinn Fein, UUP and SDLP met David Hanson at Stormont.

They hope to persuade the Minister to drop the changes.

Those broadly in favour of the liberalising of the drink laws include the Northern Ireland Grocery Licensing Forum, which represents the interests of small independent shops, the Co-op and Lidl supermarkets.

The Forum regards the present system as archaic.

Arguments rejected

In its written response to the reform plans the Forum rejected the arguments made by its opponents:

"Claims have been made by representatives of the licensed trade that 'every corner shop will be selling alcohol', 'Bangor will have 200 pubs' and that '�200m will be removed from the local economy'.

"We consider these to be a cynical attempt to colour public opinion against the proposals."

Paul Waterson: too many licences

Too many licences?

Scotland went through a similar reform thirty years ago with responsibility for the issue of licences handed over to local licensing boards.

Paul Waterson of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association says too many licences have been issued, leading to irresponsible drinks promotions and downward pressure on prices.

"We think Northern Ireland should keep the surrender situation.

"That would be the ideal situation for us in Scotland to stop some of the abuse problems that we see."

David Hanson is due to make his final decision on the proposals in July 2006.

The Politics Show

Jim Fitzpatrick presents Politics Show from Northern Ireland

The Politics Show from Northern Ireland presented by Jim Fitzpatrick.

The Politics Show returns on Sunday 16 July 2006 at 12:00 on BBC One.

You get a second chance to see the programme again that night, at 23.15 on BBC One.

Let us know what you think.

Disclaimer: The BBC may edit your comments and cannot guarantee that all emails will be published.