2014 Response to Community & Ancillary Sellers Notice proposals (December)

Questionnaire

Question 1: what size of accommodation do you think should be determined a 'small accommodation provider' for the purpose of the CAN?

a) An accommodation provider with up to five bed spaces

b) An accommodation provider with up to ten bed spaces

c) An accommodation provider with up to fifteen bed spaces

d) An accommodation provider with up to twenty bed spaces

e) Don't know

A B&B up to 5 bed spaces should cover nearly all 'small accommodation providers'. Larger B&B premises are almost hotels and merit a full alcohol licence.

Option (a) is supported.

Question 2: how much alcohol do you think should be allowed to be sold by ancillary sellers under a CAN, per guest, in a 24 hour period?

a) Up to 2 units

b) Up to 3 units

c) Up to 5 units

d) More than 5

e) Don't know

3 units of alcohol equates to a third of a bottle of wine. A man with a healthy liver can metabolise in an hour 15 mls alcohol equating to 1½ units, so 3 units would take two hours. A woman with a healthy liver can metabolise 10 mls in an hour equating to 1 unit. If their livers were not entirely healthy even consuming 2 units of alcohol could leave them at risk when driving a car on leaving the premises. Consuming more than 2 units would be potentially dangerous for driving. The Department of Health advises a limit of 3-4 units of alcohol per day for a man and 2-3 units for a woman.

Option (b) is supported.

Question 3: the CAN will be available for use by B&Bs and other similar accommodation providers. Do you think other types of accommodation providers should also be able to use the CAN? (tick all that apply)

a) Self catering holiday homes

b) Camping and caravanning sites

c) Youth hostels

d) Don't know

If alcohol is to be sold to the larger number of people involved in these accommodation providers, surely a full licence is needed.

None of these providers should be eligible for a CAN.

Question 4: how do you think a community group should be defined?

a) A broad definition to allow any group which has local membership and operates on a not-for-profit basis.

b) A defined list which includes groups such as charities, voluntary groups, faith groups, and community interest companies which operate on a not-for-profit basis.

c) Don't know.

To legitimise any group of people to be eligible for a CAN would virtually demolish the principles of the 2003 Licensing Act.

Option (b) is supported.

Question 5: how much alcohol should be allowed to be sold by community groups under a CAN?

a) Up to 2 units

b) Up to 3 units

c) Up to 5 units

d) More than 5 units (e.g. allowing more than a bottle of wine between two people)

e) Don't know

The choice is selected for the same reason given in the answer to Question 2. 3 units of alcohol equates to a third of a bottle of wine. A man with a healthy liver can metabolise in an hour 15 mls alcohol equating to 1½ units, so 3 units would take two hours. A woman with a healthy liver can metabolise 10 mls in an hour equating to 1 unit. If their livers were not entirely healthy even consuming 2 units of alcohol could leave them at risk when driving a car on leaving the premises. Consuming more than 2 units would be potentially dangerous for driving. The Department of Health advises a limit of 3-4 units of alcohol per day for a man and 2-3 units for a woman.

Option (b) is supported.

Question 6: how frequently should a community group be allowed to provide alcohol under their CAN?

a) Once per month

b) Twice per month

c) Once per week

d) More than once per week

e) No restriction / daily

f) Don't know

Since some community groups hold more than one event a month, a limit of one per week should suffice. To allow more meetings to be covered by a CAN could turn the venues into bars.

Option (c) is the choice.

December 2014                                                Alan B Shrank - NORA chairman