Booze traders urged to make early applications
(CNS Business): The Department of Commerce and Investment is advising liquor licence holders to start their licensing application process as early as possible in order to avoid delays under the new legislative regime. Booze traders and those with music and dancing licences are encouraged to apply for their renewals well before the Friday 19 August deadline so that their premises can be inspected in time by all the relevant government agencies, such as the fire service, environmental health, the planning department and the port authority.
Applicants need these reports for their renewal applications to the Liquor Licensing Board along with renewal applications.
Gavin Dixon, DCI senior trade officer, said that if the reports are unavailable by the deadline licensees must still submit renewal applications to the board by 19 August, along with proof that the inspection requests were made.
“The board considers an inspection to be valid for 12 months,” said Dixon, who is also acting as the new boards secretary.
“If you have an inspection and are successfully issued with a pass or certificate on 25 May 2016, it will be considered valid until 25 May 2017. But it should be noted that if there have been any changes in the location or structure of the premises since the inspection date, the validation of the initial inspection will be considered void and the applicant will need to request a new inspection,” Dixon added.
Completed renewal applications, and either inspection certificates or proof of inspection requests, that are submitted by 19 August will be heard at the board’s annual session on 30 September.
The Liquor Licensing Board has mailed renewal applications to each licence holder. Copies are also available from the Business Licensing Counter on the first floor of the Government Administration Building, and on the DCI website.
For more information, contact the Liquor Licensing Board through Dixon on 244-3167 or Renee Rankin at the DCI on 244-6680.
Category: Local Business, Retail
