The Licensing Act 2003 (Victory in Europe Day Licensing Hours) Order 2025
This Order, made under the Licensing Act 2003, extends licensing hours for on-premises alcohol sales and related activities in England and Wales from 11 pm on May 8th, 2025, to 1 am on May 9th, 2025, to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.
The extension applies only to premises already open during the specified times and excludes off-premises alcohol sales and regulated entertainment, unless served concurrently with on-premises alcohol sales.
Parliament approved a draft of this Order.
Arguments For
Intended benefits: Allows extended celebration of VE Day, boosting morale and the economy through increased hospitality activity.
Evidence cited: The Secretary of State deemed VE Day an occasion of exceptional national significance, justifying the temporary relaxation of licensing laws.
Implementation methods: The Order directly modifies licensing hours for relevant premises across England and Wales.
Legal/historical basis: The Order is made under the powers conferred by section 172(1) and (3)(c) and 197(2)(b) of the Licensing Act 2003, following parliamentary approval.
Arguments Against
Potential impacts: Potential for increased incidents of alcohol-related crime and disorder.
Implementation challenges: Enforcement of the extended hours and monitoring of their impact may be challenging.
Alternative approaches: Alternative celebrations or promotional events could commemorate VE Day without altering licensing laws.
Unintended effects: The extended hours may disproportionately impact certain communities or businesses, or lead to health and safety concerns.
Citation, commencement, interpretation and extent 1.
(1)
This Order may be cited as the Licensing Act 2003 (Victory in Europe Day Licensing Hours) Order 2025 and comes into force on the day after the day on which it is made.
(2)
In this Order—
“celebration period” means the period beginning with 8th May 2025 and ending with 9th May 2025; and
“specified times” means the period beginning at 11 p.m. on 8th May 2025 and ending at 1 a.m. on 9th May 2025.
(3)
This Order extends to England and Wales.
This section provides the official title, effective date, definitions, and geographic scope of the Order.
The Order's full title is established, and it comes into effect one day after its signing.
Key terms like 'celebration period' (May 8th-9th, 2025) and 'specified times' (11 pm May 8th to 1 am May 9th) clarifies the targeted time frame which are specified, and enforcement will be limited to England and Wales.
Licensing Hours 2.
(1)
Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), premises licences and club premises certificates to which paragraph (2) applies have effect (to the extent that it is not already the case) during the celebration period as if the specified times were included in the opening hours.
(2)
This paragraph applies to premises licences and club premises certificates by virtue of which the opening hours immediately precede or continue into the specified times.
(3)
The opening hours are not to be treated by virtue of paragraph (1) as including the specified times insofar as they relate to the use of premises for—
(a)
the sale by retail of alcohol for consumption off the premises,
(b)
the supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club to, or to the order of, a member of the club for consumption off the premises, or
(c)
the provision of regulated entertainment.
(4)
In relation to the use of premises for the provision of late night refreshment, the opening hours are only to be treated by virtue of paragraph (1) as including the specified times if the premises may also be used at those times for—
(a)
the sale by retail of alcohol for consumption on the premises, or
(b)
the supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club to, or to the order of, a member of the club for consumption on the premises.
This section details the changes to licensing hours.
The Order extends licensed operating hours during the specified period for premises already licensed to be open during those times.
Importantly, this applies to on-premises consumption but specifically excludes sales and supply of alcohol for off-premises consumption and regulated entertainment unless those activities occur concurrently with the sale or supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises.
The Order also establishes that the extended hours are conditional and will only take effect in conjunction with on-premises alcohol sales or supplies.