Minister discusses liquor licensing proposals

Social Development Minister David Hanson has today met with representatives of the Federation of Licensed Retail Trade and politicians to discuss liquor licensing proposals in Northern Ireland.

Following the meeting the Minister said: “The consultation exercise launched last November is now complete and all of the responses are being assessed. I expect to make an announcement shortly on the draft legislation which will have been shaped by the consultation exercise. That legislation will be considered next year by the House of Commons, or indeed the Assembly if it is up and running."

Mr Hanson continued: “I welcome today’s meeting with the Federation and the cross-party delegation. There was a lot of common ground between my position and that of the delegation on the proposals in the consultation document. There are also some areas of disagreement, and I will reflect on the issues raised before making a decision on the final proposals to go forward into draft legislation.”

Earlier today, a cross-party delegation of local politicians said that they were to meet with the Minister to express their concerns against the proposed changes to relax liquor licensing legislation.

The MPs said the proposals "could see every corner shop being able to sell alcohol."

The DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson, who is leading the delegation, said they would be urging "an emphatic no to the removal of the current cap on liquor licences."

He added that they will be stressing that the Minister must not push ahead with his proposals and disregard the views of the general public, health professionals, district policing partnerships, local councils and community organisations and added that the current liquor licensing system should not be tampered with.

(EF/GB)