Comment on an alcohol licence
- Licensing Act 2003 - guide to making a representation
- Ask for a review of an existing licence
- Contact us
See also: Comment on a gambling licence.
Anyone can have a say about licensing decisions. Your comments can be either positive or negative. Making comments is also known as making representations.
You can:
- comment on a new licence or change of licence application
- ask for a review of an existing licence or comment on a licence review
For further information, please see comment on a licence application (external site).
Your comments cannot be made anonymously. All comments will be put out into the public domain and some will end up in reports on our website. So if you’re worried about possible intimidation, consider approaching your local ward councilor or MP to make objections on your behalf.
Licensing Act 2003 - guide to making a representation
The Licensing Act permits any person to make a relevant representation in support of, or objecting to, a premises licence application. There is no requirement for you to live within a certain distance or have a particular interest, but for comments to be taken into account they must fall within the scope of being ‘relevant/valid’ under the Act.
‘Relevant/valid representation’ is the formal method available to a person who wishes to have a say on licence applications made under the Licensing Act 2003.
For a representation to be ‘relevant/valid’ under the Licensing Act 2003, it must:
- a) be submitted to the Licensing Authority
- b) be received by the Licensing Authority before the end of the 28-day consultation period
- c) relate to the likely effect of the grant of an application on the promotion of the ‘licensing objectives’ specified in the Licensing Act 2003
No 2 applications are the same. As every business is different and there are many types of applications and licensable activities, to produce a ‘relevant/valid representation’ it is essential you understand precisely what an application seeks before deciding whether to make a representation to it.
How to comment on a current application
The council maintains the online consultation list information, which is available on the Licence applications and reviews page.
Contact the Licensing Service if you need more information about the application, for example, what is proposed in the operating schedule of the application form. Email is the fastest way to make your enquiry.
To be considered ‘relevant’ a representation must clearly explain the likely effect of the grant of the premises licence on one or more of the 4 licensing objectives, which are:
- the prevention of crime and disorder
- the prevention of public nuisance
- the protection of children from harm
- public safety
Concerns must be clearly expressed or identified in the body of the representation.
There is no requirement for you to produce a recorded history of problems at the premises to support your representation. We recognise that this would not be possible for new premises. However, case law established through the Licensing Act advises that speculation and unsubstantiated claims cannot be considered.
The representation must explain the basis, or grounds, for the concern raised and certain parts of the council’s Licensing Policy (see our Statement of licensing policy page) and Government Guidance (external link), issued under Section 182 of the Act. Government Guidance may assist in assuring that your representation is as effective as possible.
An area may have some localised social issues that cause valid concerns for residents. In these cases, there is often existing legislation in force and other enforcement mechanisms available for dealing with them.
For this reason, the Licensing Act makes clear that certain considerations may not form the basis of relevant representations in relation to licensing applications.
Representations based on these concerns cannot be considered:
- limited parking provisions
- unmet demand
- the possible effect the grant of an application may have on property value
- moral or ethical views of the sale or consumption of alcohol
Make a representation
Important;
- Representations cannot be made anonymously
- All representations submitted, and not withdrawn, will form part of the Licensing Sub-committee report, which is a public document
- Representations must be received by the council within 28 days from the day after a valid application is received by the council
A representation can be submitted to us in the following ways:
- By email to: licensing@haringey.gov.uk
- Hand-delivered or by post to: Licensing Service, Alexandra House, 10 Station Road, Wood Green N22 7TR
Representations can be made by post but remember that they must be received within the 28-day period to be relevant.
We would advise you to submit your objection/supporting representation by email as this is the most reliable and effective method of serving such an important communication.
When we receive your representation
The council is required by law to:
- consider the content of the representation to establish whether it meets the criteria for being relevant/valid
- send a copy of the representation to the applicant or their representative
Weekly list of applications email
If you wish to be sent a weekly list of applications under consultation in Haringey (new applications, variation applications, minor variation applications, review applications), please send your email to licensing@haringey.gov.ukand we will add you to the mailing list.
Ask for a review of an existing licence
If you feel that a licensed premises is causing you problems, you can ask us to review their licence.
Before applying, please consider whether the problem can be solved by:
- talking to the person who runs the premises as they may be willing to take steps to resolve the situation
- asking us, the licensing department, if we could talk to the licensee on your behalf
- asking your local MP (external link) or councillor (external link) to speak to the licensee on your behalf
- talking to environmental health if it’s a noise problem, or the police (external link) if it’s a crime and disorder problem, as they may be able to help
Check our licensing register to see if the premises has an existing licence.
Review request form
To ask us to review an existing licence, please complete the review form and email to us:
Important – on the same day that you send us the review form, you must also send copies to:
- the licence holder
- all relevant responsible authorities
Licences currently under review
See our list of premises licence and club premises certificate licence currently under review.
Contact us
Telephone
020 8489 8232
Email
licensing@haringey.gov.uk