Some welcome proposed alcohol licensing law change

Islanders have reacted to proposals to update alcohol licensing laws in Jersey.

The proposal included plans to make more flexible conditions for businesses, reducing the number of licence categories from seven to two and moving responsibility for alcohol licensing to the Alcohol and Gambling Commission.

Jersey resident David Petit said he believed it was "long overdue".

"The licensing law hasn't been changed for many years and for an island that did have such a wonderful tourism industry, it needs to make sure that we have a product for people coming from abroad as well as servicing local needs," he said.

Director of The Lamplighter pub, Kirsten Murphy, said anything to help the hospitality industry was a bonus as it had been struggling.

She said: "We are very lucky, we have quite a regular clientele.

"We've decided not to do any drinks promotions, we tend to just sell what we sell and we are okay at the moment."

She said drinks promotions were helpful to customers because "they've only got so much money in their pocket" but "obviously you've got to keep it under control and keep an eye on it, make sure it doesn't get out of hand".

Simon and Diane Cleaver travelled to Jersey on holiday from the UK.

Mr Cleaver said the proposals sounded like a good thing.

He said: "I suppose the downside is you get some people binge drinking… problems with unsociable behaviour.

"For people like us it would be a good thing, but I think there's pros and cons."

Mrs Cleaver said: "I think anything to boost the business for hospitality has got to help nowadays but you've just got to be careful about the age of the people that go into places.

"You still have occasions when young people may be drink more than they realise… That can cause a bit of upset for other people. So there's still some kind of overview needed."

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