Jersey’s long-standing licensing assembly will be dismantled, with powers over alcohol licensing handed over to government regulators in one of the most significant upheavals of the island’s licensing system in decades.
States Members yesterday voted to approve the Draft Alcohol Licensing (Jersey) Law, which will replace previous legislation dating from 1974.
The package of reforms, brought forward by Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel, aimed at “reducing complexities” and speeding up the process for businesses seeking licences.
Under the new law, the Licensing Assembly will be abolished, with oversight passing to the government’s Regulation Directorate.
Meanwhile, an Alcohol Policy Group – which will issue guidance on areas such as opening hours, promotions, pricing and public health – will be established.
Old system swept aside
Under the approved law, regulators will now take on the role of granting alcohol licences, replacing the centuries-old process involving the Licensing Assembly.
The Regulation Directorate will also be required to publish licence applications on the gov.je website and explain any decisions that differ from those taken by Parish Assemblies to the relevant Constable.
Alongside this shift in power, a new Alcohol Policy Board will be established to guide policy on key issues such as opening hours, promotions, pricing, public health and the definition of a “fit and proper person” to hold a licence.
Any guidance it produces must be approved by the States Assembly before it comes into force.
Bailhache bid rejected
An attempt to preserve the Licensing Assembly was decisively rejected.
Deputy Sir Philip Bailhache lodged an amendment seeking to retain the body as the authority responsible for approving liquor licences. But Members voted it down by 35 votes to 11, with one abstention.
The move cleared the way for the new regulatory system to proceed.
Scrutiny change approved unanimously
During the debate, the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel successfully altered the minister’s own amendment by removing the Attorney General as a named member of the Alcohol Policy Board.
That change was backed overwhelmingly by the Assembly – passing 44 votes to none, with one abstention.
The wider amendment – which formally moved oversight to the Regulation Directorate, defined the board’s membership and scrapped plans to introduce civil penalties – was then approved by 43 votes to two, with one abstention.
Free tap water requirement added
Members also backed a separate proposal from Deputy Alex Curtis requiring licensed premises to provide customers with free tap water, unless it cannot be supplied easily.
That amendment passed by 43 votes to none, with one abstention.
Law approved
Following the series of changes, the Assembly gave final approval to Deputy Morel’s proposition as amended – voting 44 votes for, two against and one abstention.
The principles of the legislation had already been approved by the States in January, but yesterday’s debate finalised the detailed articles of the law.
The Constable’s Committee had previously proposed its own amendment, but it was withdrawn before the debate resumed.
Major shift in control
The reforms represent a fundamental restructuring of how alcohol licences are granted and overseen in Jersey.
Where decisions were once made in open court by the Licensing Assembly, responsibility will now sit primarily with government regulators – albeit with new transparency requirements and policy guidance approved by the States.