Nightlife advocacy group Free The Night has welcomed the findings of an independent review into Northern Ireland’s liquor licensing system, which suggested that the current system is ‘unfit for purpose’.
According to the review, which was conducted by the University of Stirling along with researchers from the Universities of Sheffield and Edinburgh, the current licensing system has led to a ‘relative lack of diversity in terms of venue types.’
The review sets out 26 recommendations for reform to modernise licensing laws and bring Northern Ireland onto an equal footing with other countries, as well as other parts of the UK.
One of the key recommendations is the reform or removal of the ‘surrender principle’, a century-old system that restricts the number of alcohol licenses – according to the researchers, this has led to a shift of licences from pubs and venues to off-licences.
The current system, the researchers note, ‘creates barriers to diversification and innovation in terms of both the range of products available to consumers and the types of venues licensed to sell alcohol.’
“Change involves managing the needs and aspirations of a wide range of stakeholders and communities, we recognise that this is a challenge,” commented Dr James Nicholls, University of Stirling. “However, our proposals seek to strike a balance between these competing requirements: supporting pubs, enabling innovation, protecting health, and modernising a system that has, in many respects, remained unchanged for decades.”
The review also suggests creating a pool of non-transferable licenses for cultural venues, which can’t be resold or transferred, and simplifying the process for occasional licenses to support pop-up events and festivals.
It adds that the lack of nightclubs in Northern Ireland is ‘striking’, with the researchers stating that nightclubs ‘form an important element of the night-time economy in a number of other cities’, and that ‘if the current restrictions on operating hours are exacerbating this problem […] then it is something that needs to be considered’.
“This review validates many of the concerns Free The Night has been raising since our formation,” commented Holly Lester, co-founder of Free The Night. “It’s encouraging to see the impact of early club closing times acknowledged as a serious issue, alongside recommendations that could genuinely empower promoters, entrepreneurs, and creatives.
“Northern Ireland’s nightlife has been held back for too long by an outdated system, limiting cultural expression and economic growth. We urge policymakers to act on these findings and implement meaningful reform to create a thriving, diverse, and accessible night-time economy in Belfast and beyond.”
Boyd Sleator, fellow co-founder added that Northern Ireland has been “held back for way too long by an antiquated system that only benefits the few. We now urge the Minister for Communities to move at pace to implement these recommendations.” Read the full review here.
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