Food licence cooks up extra expense
ACCORDING to the Scottish Grocers’ Federation, converting to the new licensing system has cost its members £22.4 million – and for some supermarkets, …
Lawyer named rising star
LICENSING lawyer, and SLTN columnist, Stephen McGowan has been named Rising Star of the Year at the Scottish Legal Awards. McGowan, a director of the licensing …
Time to embrace the great outdoors
ON Sunday (March 25) the clocks spring forward an hour, bringing lighter nights and, if we let ourselves dream, the start of a glorious summer. The licensing …
Lindsays’ lawyers up for awards
TWO solicitors from law firm Lindsays are in the running for prestigious awards. Licensing law veteran John Batters has been short-listed in the specialist …
Legal deluge fails to impress solicitors
THE owners of licensed premises have been forced to grapple with reams of new red tape in recent years as the Scottish Parliament has legislated in an attempt …
Licence cap is too blunt a measure
A ROUND a hundred years ago, the temperance movement reached its zenith. In the past year or so, history appears to have been repeating itself. Then, as now, …
Stage set for more drink price drama
Bill will be passed by parliament but policy is certain to be challenged “OH no you can’t!” shout its detractors. “Oh yes we can!” declares the SNP. …
No such thing as test perfection
A FEW months ago I drew attention to a worrying trend in relation to test purchase failures. Licensing boards had started to use their immediate licence …
Tenants’ dismay at pubco response
The UK Government last week disappointed pub tenants campaigning for sweeping reform of the pubco model. In its response to the latest report by the Business …
Why we need a minimum price
THE case for minimum pricing was set out by Scotland’s top civil servant on alcohol before a major licensing conference in Glasgow last week. Addressing …
