Brewers pitch in over licence fears

Anxious brewers are reminding licensees that they must act quickly to apply for new licenses.

The new licensing regime for England and Wales comes into force in November and many licensees still haven't submitted their applications.

The brewers have now begun putting reminders on their invoices and statements, warning their customers not to get caught out.

With most councils still reporting low application rates for the new licenses, brewers such as Scottish & Newcastle have introduced "Act Now!" reminders to their paperwork.

The new licensing system is due to start on 24 November, with councils taking over responsibility from magistrates.

But for those wishing to guarantee their current hours, time is even tighter, according to Mark Hastings, director of communications at the British Beer & Pub Association.

He said: "If you wish to convert your licence and retain your right to operate your business as you do now, your application must be submitted before 6 August: that's just six weeks away."

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