More of your questions answered in this months Hill Brown Licensing Q & A.
Question
Do l need a cinema licence to show films in my pub?
Answer
If you intend to show films on more than 6 days of the year and the public are to be admitted you will generally need to obtain a cinema licence to do so unless you can demonstrate that the screenings are not for commercial gain or that they are for educational purposes. If you are unsure the Civic Licensing Team at the Council will be able to assist. You must also ensure that you have films listed as an activity on the operating plan of your premises licence and have acquired the appropriate rights to the movies.
Audrey Junner, Partner Hill Brown
Question
I work in a busy bar in Edinburgh and we serve patrons from all over the world on a regular basis. I am not clear on what types of foreign photographic ID are acceptable to confirm that someone is over 18 and can therefore be served alcohol?
Answer
If a person is prosecuted for selling alcohol to a person under 18 it is a defence for that person to show that they believed the person was over 18 and they had taken reasonable steps to establish this. They will be deemed to have taken reasonable steps if they were shown a document which would have convinced a reasonable person. The Licensing Act specifies a list of acceptable documents and as well as passports, the list include some types of foreign ID including a Eurpoean Union photocard driving licence or a national identity card issued by a European Union member state, Norway, Iceland. Lichtenstein or Switzerland. So both of these types of foreign ID would be considered acceptable. It is however ultimately for the licenceholder or you as the server to decide whether you accept certain documents and if you are in any doubt as to their authenticity you cannot be compelled to accept them.
For more information you can contact Audrey directly at Hill Brown Licensing: AJ@mshblicensing.com