Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 - Section 142: guidance for Licensing Boards – FIFA World Cup 2026

Conditions/ safeguards for licensed premises

Licensing Boards may wish to consider the extent to which later opening can be supported in meeting the licensing objectives by appropriate controls, and whether this is best addressed through a co-ordinated approach within a licensing board area or through premises-specific applications determined on their merits.

Issues that Licensing Boards may wish to consider before permitting a licensed premises to stay open later to show matches could include:

• The licensed premises where relevant, has appropriate permissions obtained to broadcast sports.
• Ticketed entry to support monitoring of maximum capacity.
• Last entry aligned with match kick off times.
• Sufficient SIA approved stewarding.
• Use of reusable plastic cups for the duration of the extended licence.
• No under 18’s permitted on the premises out with their normal approved hours
• Continued adherence to existing external licensing conditions, for example, beer gardens.
• Premises to close no later than 30 minutes after the final whilst to allow appropriate dispersal.
• Any additional local considerations specific to problematic premises or relevant intelligence.
• Having regard to the availability of local public transport provision .

Section 27A of the 2005 Act allows Licensing Boards to make a variation of premises licence conditions where they are satisfied that it is necessary or expedient for the purposes of any of the licensing objectives. Such a variation may apply to all licensed premises, particular licensed premises, licensed premises within a particular area or of a particular description. Further detail about the publication and notification requirements can be found in paragraphs 8.64-8.65 of the 2023 guidance.

Licensing Boards may wish to consider whether any variation of licensed conditions is appropriate if granting an extension for these purposes. Examples of possible draft conditions/ safeguards that Licensing Boards may wish to consider for licensed premises showing matches are attached as an Annex to this guidance.

These draft conditions/ safeguards are provided to support a proportionate approach for later opening which focuses on possible key risks and how to mitigate them.