The UK Government has launched a four-week consultation on licensing reform that would remove the legal requirement for pubs and restaurants to advertise licensing changes in local newspapers. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Business Secretary Peter Kyle announced the consultation on October 9, which runs until November 6.
The proposals target what ministers call "red tape" around alcohol licensing under the Licensing Act 2003. The government wants to make it easier for venues to serve food outside, host live music, and continue operating despite noise complaints.
Community transparency at risk
The plan to scrap mandatory public notices threatens community involvement in licensing decisions. Local residents currently receive advance warning of new venues or extended opening hours through newspaper advertisements, allowing them to voice concerns before changes are approved.
Around 10.2 million adults cannot complete basic online tasks and rely on printed newspapers for public notices. Research shows local news media remains the primary source for people accessing such notices, with many digitally excluded from online alternatives.
Industry opposition emerges
Only Bristol Post reports that senior hospitality industry figures are calling the licensing notice removal plans "total nonsense" and "more harm than good." This opposition comes despite the industry supporting other proposed licensing reforms.
The Government Licensing Taskforce reviewing these changes was composed overwhelmingly of hospitality representatives with no media industry input. The hospitality sector faces significant challenges, with 209 pubs closing in the first six months of 2024.
Broader concerns about transparency
Only Birmingham Mail and Chronicle Live report that the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill would simultaneously remove local authority governance notices from newspapers. This creates a pattern of reduced public transparency across multiple areas of local decision-making.
Local newspaper publishers argue the proposals damage democratic participation rather than cutting meaningful red tape. They emphasise that public notices ensure councils and licensed premises cannot hide controversial decisions from affected communities.
The consultation represents a critical moment for community rights and local democracy. Regional newspapers across England and Wales have united in opposition to what they see as government moves toward administrative secrecy.
Sources used: "WalesOnline", "Chronicle Live", "Birmingham Mail", "Liverpool Echo", "Bristol Post" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
