The Liquor Licensing and Public Entertainments Bill 2021 has passed through parliament.

The wide-ranging reform bill had its final reading in the House of Keys last week.

The Bill represents the first major reform in 25 years of alcohol licensing and music, dancing and other public entertainments.

The government describes the ’landmark’ proposals, which won public support following two consultations,as aiming to improve industry standards, while preventing crime and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the public.

From the consultations, views from the Licensing Forum, community groups and members of the public were fed into the final Bill.

Minister for the Department of Justice and Home Affairs Graham Cregeen said: ’New licensing legislation is long overdue, so I’m delighted that we now have a modern, fit-for-purpose regime which will provide for the needs of everyone with an interest in licensing law - our established licensed traders, new start-up businesses, community groups, customers and members of the public.

’The Bill addresses issues which matter greatly to our economy and community, and the range of input to the two rounds of consultation was excellent.

’I am grateful to the Licensing Forum, the industry and the many interested parties who shared their views with us, to help ensure firm footings for our new regime.’

The new regime has seven core objectives: securing public safety, preventing crime and disorder, preventing public nuisance, protecting and improving public health, protecting children from harm, providing an environment in which the hospitality industry may flourish, and promoting high standards across the hospitality industry.

The Bill will also see the PubWatch scheme become a formal, managed process, allowing the sharing of information between the police and licensees.

It also provides powers to prevent restrictive covenants on former licensed premises being applied in future.

Also included in the Bill is provision for certain responsibilities of the Licensing Court to be transferred to a new licensing authority, should a model for this be agreed over time, and it enshrines a new offence of assault on staff of licensed premises.

The government said that the less bureaucratic regime would benefit charities who wish to host one-off licensed events.

It stressed that in most cases, charitable events or venues which don’t need a licence now, including traditions such as Hunt the Wren and the Tin Bath races, will not need a licence under the new legislation.

Work will now begin on drafting the detailed regulations which will sit beneath the Bill and there will be a further chance for people to comment on proposals via the government’s online consultation hub.