The communities minister in Northern Ireland has rejected the calls laid out in the Report of the Independent Review of Liquor Licensing, a decision that has been widely criticised by the beer sector.
The Independent Review called on the minister to reconsider the Surrender Principle, which limits the number of alcohol licences available at any one time in Northern Ireland.
Under the principle, if a business owner wants to open an on- or off-trade premise in Northern Ireland, they must wait for one of the licences to be ‘surrendered’ and transferred to their premises.
Yesterday (18 November), communities minister Gordon Lyons published his department’s response to the report, including the sections on the Surrender Principle.
In it, Lyons denied a re-examination of the principle. He said: “Our licensed premises are vital to the Northern Ireland economy. They support tourism, provide employment and serve as important social spaces in our communities. That is why I have decided not to accept the authors’ recommendation for targeted reform of the Surrender Principle.
“These changes could have significant and unintended consequences on the economic viability of our hospitality sector at a time when many are operating below viability thresholds.”
The Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) have criticised Lyons decision. SIBA’s Northern Ireland chair William Mayne, said: “Today the minister has shut the pub door on beer drinkers and NI’s independent breweries by dismissing the substantial recommendations for reforms made by the independent review of the licensing system.
“Drinkers want to enjoy a locally produced beer in our pubs but the system prevents the vast majority of NI’s brewers from selling their products locally. Instead, 99% of all beer in NI is imported and local breweries are shut out.”
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) also released a statement in which it described itself as “furious”.
Director of CAMRA for Northern Ireland, Ruth Sloan, said: “This is a huge, wasted opportunity from the communities minister and shows a total disregard for the consumers this administration represents. Instead of working to modernise the industry in Northern Ireland he has chosen to side with giant multinational businesses which dominate our pub market and mean there is rarely a choice of decent beer and cider at the bars.”
“This decision just adds another nail to the coffin of micropubs, brewery taprooms, wine bars and other specialist venues that are thriving across GB and the rest of Europe yet cannot exist here due to the nature of these outdated laws.
“I’m calling on MLAs from all parties to urge the communities minister to think again and commit to modernising our alcohol licensing system,” Sloan finished.
