Alcohol licensing overhaul could undermine accountability

Plans to overhaul alcohol licensing in England and Wales will undermine already limited democratic accountability, making it more difficult to decline off-trade licences or restrict hours of sale or delivery, experts at the University of Stirling have warned.

They have expressed concern that the UK Government has enthusiastically endorsed sweeping changes to the 2003 Licensing Act proposed following the rapid publication of a report by the Licensing Taskforce, which was led predominantly by hospitality industry figures.

Recommendations include redefining the primary purpose of licensing as economic enablement rather than public protection, increasing the powers of unelected licensing officers, and reducing the oversight of elected local committees. A call for evidence consultation closes on November 6.

In a new editorial published in the journal Addiction, experts at the University of Stirling’s Institute of Social Marketing and Health have argued the proposals represent a clear case of regulatory capture, where commercial interests dominate policymaking at the expense of public health, democratic accountability, and community input.

Dr James Nicholls, Senior Lecturer in Public Health, who led the paper, said: “The Taskforce Report aims to fundamentally reframe the purposes of alcohol licensing in England and Wales: moving from public protection to the promotion of private business interests. Conducted at speed, with minimal public scrutiny, systematically excluding health considerations, and dominated by commercial interests, it constitutes a clear case of regulatory capture. This should be resisted by anyone with an interest in fair and effective governance, as well as a concern for effectively preventing harm.”

Launched in April 2025 by the Treasury, the Taskforce was co-chaired by a government minister and the CEO of pub and brewing company Greene King, and included leaders from UK Hospitality, the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), and other industry bodies.

No representatives from the Department of Health and Social Care were involved, and no public record exists of who was consulted beyond the taskforce members, or what evidence was considered.

Institute for Social Marketing and Health (ISMH) Director Professor Niamh Fitzgerald, who co-authored the paper, has warned the changes could drastically weaken the already limited ability of local authorities to regulate alcohol sales, particularly in the off-trade sector, which already accounts for around 75% of UK alcohol consumption.

She said: “The system by which licences are granted is a matter of public concern, since the impacts of alcohol are felt by communities, families and society at large. However, the Taskforce report, and government response, seek to shift power significantly towards private, commercial interests.

“The proposals are presented as being about hospitality businesses, but the measures would inevitably weaken local authority powers to regulate off-trade sales, leading to higher numbers of shops and warehouses offering cheap alcohol and 24-hour home deliveries. This will do nothing to help hospitality businesses but worsen recent trends away from drinking in bars. More drinking means more ambulance calls, antisocial behaviour and ever-higher numbers of people dying as a result.”

The Government’s official response, released in June, endorses the report’s direction, promising to explore all avenues to implement its core recommendations and establish a new Licensing Working Group embedded within an industry-led council.

Dr Nicholls added: “The Minister’s framing of alcohol retail as a source of happiness and social cohesion is also concerning as the language would violate industry marketing codes if used in commercial advertising. There must be greater transparency, independent oversight, and meaningful public consultation before any reforms are implemented.”