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

Annex

Draft Standard Conditions/ Safeguards for World Cup 2026 Matches

For Section 68 applications these draft conditions/ safeguards are provided to support a consistent and proportionate approach for later opening connected with the screening of FIFA World Cup 2026 matches. These are intended to be potential additional conditions which may be imposed and are not intended to replace the mandatory licence conditions or other existing conditions.

Children and Young Persons

Children and young persons under the age of 18 shall not be admitted to the premises/ venue during any period of later opening connected with World Cup matches.

Purpose and Scope

Later opening is authorised solely for the purpose of screening World Cup matches and associated customer management and dispersal.

The premises/ organiser shall ensure that the event is conducted in a manner consistent with the licensing objectives, including the prevention of crime and disorder, securing public safety, preventing public nuisance and protecting and improving public health.

Authorisation to Screen

For premises licence holders, the premises shall only operate later for match screening where the premises already has a relevant licence and is already authorised within its operating plan to provide televised sport/ television (or where an appropriate variation has been granted).

Management and Supervision

A designated manager/ event lead shall be on duty from 22.00 hours until close and shall be responsible for compliance with these conditions and for liaison with Police Scotland, the Licensing Standards Officer and licensing officers where required.

Prior to the commencement of each event night, staff shall be briefed on admission controls, capacity management, noise control and dispersal arrangements, and incident escalation procedures.

A personal licence holder shall be present on the premises from 22.00 hours until close.

The premises/ organiser shall ensure that sufficient staff are on duty to manage the premises/ venue safely, having regard to the expected attendance, capacity and terminal hour.

Capacity and Queue Management

The premises/ organiser shall ensure that the permitted capacity is not exceeded at any time and shall deploy sufficient staff to monitor and control occupancy throughout.

Where high attendance is anticipated, the premises/ organiser shall implement controlled admission and queue management measures to prevent obstruction, disorder and nuisance at the frontage.

The premises/ organiser shall ensure that any temporary arrangements associated with the screening (including seating, barriers and queuing systems) do not compromise safe means of escape.

The premises/ organiser shall ensure that patrons waiting to gain entry are managed so as to avoid public nuisance, disorder or obstruction, including at the frontage and in any nearby public areas.

No alcohol shall be sold or supplied for consumption off the premises during any period of later opening connected with matches.

The premises/ organiser shall operate a refusals policy and shall record refusals of alcohol and any incidents arising.

Safety, Security and Welfare

Door supervision shall be provided from 23.00 hours until close where required by risk assessment having regard to the nature, location and capacity of the premises/ venue, anticipated attendance and the terminal hour sought, and shall be increased where Police Scotland advise that such measures are necessary to support the licensing objectives.

A person trained in first aid shall be present on the premises/at the event from 23.00 hours until close.

An incident/ refusals record shall be maintained for each event night and shall be produced to Police Scotland and/ or Licensing Standards Officers (lsos) on request.

The premises/ organiser shall operate a zero-tolerance approach to drugs and weapons, with staff instructed to contact Police Scotland where appropriate.

The premises/ organiser shall take reasonable steps to prevent the consumption or possession of illegal drugs on the premises/ at the event and shall co-operate with Police Scotland in any enforcement action.

Noise Control and Prevention of Public Nuisance

Doors and windows shall be managed to minimise noise breakout after 22.00 hours, particularly during/ after the match and during dispersal.

Any external smoking/ vaping area shall be supervised and managed to prevent nuisance, disorder and obstruction.

External areas (including smoking/ vaping areas) shall be actively monitored and managed to prevent nuisance and disorder. Patrons shall not be permitted to congregate out with the premises in a manner likely to cause nuisance.

No amplified music or commentary shall be played in any external area during the period of later opening.

The premises/ organiser shall ensure that any noise-generating activities associated with the screening (including chanting or announcements) are managed so as to minimise disturbance to nearby residents.

Dispersal

A written safety dispersal plan shall be in place for each event night where later opening is authorised. The plan shall cover staffing at exits at closing, management of external areas and frontage, and steps to minimise noise and disorder in the vicinity. More generally, wider consideration of local transport plans and availability of public transport service provision should also be considered.

The premises/ organiser shall actively manage dispersal at the end of the event/ closing time by deploying staff (and door staff where engaged) at exits and the immediate frontage to encourage prompt and quiet departure and to prevent patrons lingering.

Clear closing/ dispersal announcements shall be made in advance of closing to support orderly winding-down and departure.