Changes to alcohol licensing law put forward
BBCA proposal to update alcohol licensing laws in Jersey has been lodged.
Sustainable Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel has put forward the proposal which included having more flexible conditions for businesses and reducing the number of licence categories from seven to two.
It would also move responsibility for alcohol licensing from the Royal Court to the Jersey Gambling Commission, which would be renamed the Alcohol and Gambling Commission.
Morel added the change would create a "clearer mechanism" for appeals and also speed up the appeals process.
It would also bring policy decisions, such as drinks promotions, into the control of the States Assembly rather than the Attorney General.
Morel said: "The draft law allows for licence conditions to be amended on a case-by-case basis which should provide for greater flexibility and expediency in correcting any breaches of the law or addressing any concerns."
He added licence conditions could also be added in future to provide greater protections against minors accessing alcohol, including restricting the sale areas within off-licensed premises.
The minister said those decisions would be guided by government policy and informed by future research.
Morel added the legal drinking age would not be impacted, but further requirements would be introduced where a person aged between 16 and 18 who worked in a licenced premise needed to be supervised by a fit and proper person.
Morel said "it is a 50-year-old law, it has become outdated", and drinking habits have changed over time.
He said young islanders drank less but were more likely to drink at home and not in licensed premises.
He added: "I would strongly argue that this alcohol licensing law promotes more responsible drinking as opposed to less responsible hidden drinking."
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