Council lifts Sunday licensing restrictions

Argyll and Bute Council’s Licensing Board has agreed to allow the sale of alcohol in off licenses from 10.00am on a Sunday. The decision was made following consultation with the Local Licensing Forum.

Any license holder who wishes to open from 10.00am on a Sunday should now write to the Licensing Board as soon as possible, applying for a variation to their hours.

This procedure would normally carry a fee of £160. However, as a one-off gesture, the Board has decided to reduce that fee to £20.

Previously, Argyll & Bute Council generally restricted alcohol sales to after 12.30pm on a Sunday, a policy which a few other Licensing Boards across Scotland still operate.

The Licensing Board’s Chairman, Councillor Daniel Kelly, said that various consequences of that policy have been brought to the Board’s attention, persuading its members to review the situation.

‘One of these was that off license outlets in Argyll and Bute felt they were being unfairly disadvantaged. Some of our neighbouring authorities allow earlier opening, and local license holders felt they were losing trade over the borders.

‘In addition, people in Argyll and Bute often have to travel a significant distance to their local shops. Some were setting off early on a Sunday morning, buying their groceries and then discovering that they couldn’t get a bottle of wine until 12.30pm.

‘Another area of concern was Argyll and Bute’s standing as one of Scotland’s most popular yachting destinations.

‘We had reports from shops and off licenses around the coast that boats were coming in on a Sunday to restock their provisions, only to discover that they couldn’t buy alcohol until after 12.30pm. Often, they were having to leave before then to catch the tide.

‘So, after consultation and careful consideration, the Board has now agreed to amend its current policy. From the next Board meeting on 4th February 2010, we will be prepared to consider applications for 10.00am opening on Sundays.

‘We have always known that certain decisions we have taken in the past might need to be reviewed at a later date, and this was one such occasion. We will of course continue to monitor the impact of all our policies on license holders, their customers and the wider Argyll and Bute community.’

What licence holders should now do

Any license holder who wishes to apply for a variation to Sunday hours should write to the Clerk to the Licensing Board, Argyll and Bute Council, Kilmory, Lochgilphead PA31 8RT.

The £20 fee should be included in the envelope.

Note: Applications to be considered at the meeting on 4th February must be received by the Board no later than Thursday, 7th January 2010, to allow for the statutory 21 day advertising period.