On-the-spot fines for Licensing Act 2003 offences

On 26 January 2009 the Penalties for Disorderly Behaviour (Amount of Penalty) (Amendment) Order 2008 will come into effect, giving licensing officers and Trading Standards officers the power to levy on-the-spot fines for certain offences.

If an offender does not pay immediately the matter will be dealt with by a court in the normal way, potentially incurring a higher level of fine and criminal conviction.

There are two levels of fine and all offences are as listed under the Licensing Act 2003 unless specified.

Offences attracting penalty of £80 for persons aged 16 or over, and £40 for persons under 16:

• Allowing disorderly conduct on licensed premises (s140)
• Obtaining alcohol for consumption on relevant premises for a person who is drunk (s142)
• Failure of person who is drunk or disorderly to leave relevant premises on request (s143)
• Allowing unaccompanied children under 16 on certain premises (s145)
• Sale of alcohol to persons under 18 (s146 (1) and (3))
• Purchase of alcohol by persons under 18 on relevant premises (s149 (1))
• Purchase of alcohol on behalf of persons under 18 (s149 (3) and (4))
• Delivery of alcohol to persons under 18 or allowing such delivery (s151)

Offences attracting penalty of £50 for persons aged 16 and over, or £30 for persons under 16:

• Being drunk in a highway, other public place or licensed premises (s12 Licensing Act 1872)
• Sale of alcohol to a person who is drunk (s141)
• Consumption of alcohol by a person under 18 on relevant premises or allowing such consumption (s150)