Amendment to alcohol licence power is 'terrifying'

An amendment to plans giving constables the right to decide on alcohol licences for pubs and clubs is "terrifying", a hospitality chief has said.

In December, minister for sustainable economic development Kirsten Morel put forward a proposal to update alcohol licensing laws by moving responsibility from the Royal Court to the Jersey Gambling Commission.

The committee for constables put forward an amendment to Morel's proposal which said they wanted approval powers as they already had experience in alcohol licensing and stakeholder engagement.

Co-chief executive officers, Ana and Marcus Calvani, from Jersey Hospitality Association said the amendment was "utterly shocking".

"For an island that claims it wants growth, innovation and a thriving visitor economy, this is genuinely terrifying," the leaders added.

The committee for constables previously said it acknowledged the "effectiveness" of the commission but believed parish administrations were "better placed to take on the determining authority function" if the Licensing Assembly was to be extinguished.

Ana and Marcus Calvani said the proposal "could not be more behind the times".

"It is anti-business, creates unnecessary red tape, deters investment, and drags Jersey backwards, not forwards. It reads far less like reform and far more like an attempt to consolidate power," they said.

"What makes this even more concerning is that during months of consultation leading up to the draft law, there was no feedback from the constables that reflected these views. To see them emerge now, at this stage, is deeply troubling.

"The fact that this has been published without any consultation with industry, after years of engagement, compromise and co-design, demonstrates a worrying lack of thought and consideration for the businesses, workers and communities this law directly affects."

In its amendment the committee said: "While the commission may have a theoretical process advantage as a single entity, the parishes have the benefit of current experience in alcohol licensing regulation.

"Moreover, parish administrations will also have scope to collaborate on administering the new law."

The proposals are due to be debated from 3 February.

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