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14/03/2003
Liquor licensing extension to include Odyssey Arena
Indoor arenas such as the Odyssey Arena will be able to apply for a licence to sell alcohol under changes to be introduced to licensing legislation.
At present the Odyssey Arena relies on the discretion of the court to grant occasional licences permitting alcohol to be sold at events such as music concerts. However, NIO Minister Des Browne today approved the preparation of draft legislation to amend the existing liquor licensing law "following a public consultation which showed significant support for the licensing of indoor arenas".
“The changes will enable a large indoor arena to sell alcohol but the safeguards contained in the existing legislation, including those relating to young people, will remain in place," he said.
“I very much hope the legislation needed to implement the changes will eventually take the form of a Bill the Assembly can vote on.”
It is not possible for an indoor arena to apply for a liquor licence under the current Licensing Order, as venues such as the Odyssey Arena were not envisaged when the current liquor licensing law was being formulated.
(GMcG)
At present the Odyssey Arena relies on the discretion of the court to grant occasional licences permitting alcohol to be sold at events such as music concerts. However, NIO Minister Des Browne today approved the preparation of draft legislation to amend the existing liquor licensing law "following a public consultation which showed significant support for the licensing of indoor arenas".
“The changes will enable a large indoor arena to sell alcohol but the safeguards contained in the existing legislation, including those relating to young people, will remain in place," he said.
“I very much hope the legislation needed to implement the changes will eventually take the form of a Bill the Assembly can vote on.”
It is not possible for an indoor arena to apply for a liquor licence under the current Licensing Order, as venues such as the Odyssey Arena were not envisaged when the current liquor licensing law was being formulated.
(GMcG)
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