Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes the following miscellaneous amendments to the Licensing Act (Northern Ireland) 1971—

(a)

to enable the Department of Health and Social Services to modify by regulations the ancillary businesses which may be carried on in public houses and off-licensed premises;

(b)

to restrict sales of intoxicating liquor in hotels and public houses after nine in the evening to sales for consumption in the premises only;

(c)

to amend and assimilate the defences to the offences of permitting minors to be in bars and selling intoxicating liquor to minors;

(d)

to amend the definition of intoxicating liquor to include liquor which is found on analysis of a sample thereof at any time to exceed a strength of 1.2 per cent.;

(e)

to extend the definition of “resident” to include a guest or traveller taking accommodation in certain public houses;

(f)

to make pre-consolidation amendments.

It also amends provisions in the Licensing Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 andthe Registration of Clubs (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 to permit extensionlicences or special occasion authorisations to be granted for the 31stDecember in any year where that date falls on a Sunday. Draft Order in Councillaid before Parliament under the Northern Ireland Act 1974, Schedule 1paragraph 1(4)(a), for approval by resolution of each House of Parliament.