Brightcrew ruling continues to impact
Judgement that boards must only consider alcohol in decisions has ramifications BACK in May 2010 a ruling from Glasgow Sheriff Court looked set to cause major …
Trade is entitled to a fair hearing
Is it right for boards to consider pending charges before guilt is established? IN the last issue of SLTN solicitor Stephen McGowan deconstructed the …
Pressure continues to mount on trade
Police and health lobby increasingly intervening in alcohol policy AS the fumes cleared in the wake of the smoking ban a few years back, it became clear that …
Court action likely on licence cap policy
Almost three years since it came into effect, the 2005 Act is still sparking controversy, as the debate over Edinburgh’s overprovision policy shows. …
Penalties for illegal sales is test for Act
THE sanctions dispensed by boards to businesses that fail test purchases and are caught selling alcohol to underage persons is another hot topic in Scottish …
Health-linked board policies holding firm
BACK in February I reported that Edinburgh licensing board was consulting on an amendment to its overprovision policy that would almost create a formidable …
Sheriff warning over short-term sanctions
Immediate suspensions may lead to “denial of justice” THE last issue of SLTN reported that Asda had suffered a one-day licence suspension following the …
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 …
