Blog – The Licensing Guys

BAr person checking IDs in Black and White moody filter

Age Verification

Digital Age Verification Is Coming: What Bar and Shop Owners Need to Know

Running a licensed premises today means balancing legal compliance with speed of service and customer convenience. A significant change is now on the horizon that could affect every pub, bar, restaurant, convenience store and off-licence in England and Wales. The Home Office has laid new regulations that will allow customers to prove their age using approved digital verification services rather

July 22, 2026

Alcohol Licences

Alcohol Licensing Changes: What Your Business Needs to Know (2026)

Longer hours, fewer restrictions and new rules – here’s what it means for your business. Alcohol Licensing Update for Businesses – June 2026 The Government is moving ahead with major changes to alcohol licensing, aimed at supporting pubs, bars, restaurants and retailers. While not all reforms are in force yet, the direction is now clear — and it could create

June 28, 2026

Alcohol Licences

Big Picture: Licensing Reform Agenda Accelerating

The dominant story in alcohol licensing remains ongoing government reform of the Licensing Act 2003 framework. 👉 Over the past few weeks, industry commentary and legal updates have reinforced that: Core proposals still in play: ➡️ In short: The system is shifting from control → enablement. Important Shift: Policy vs Local Authority Control A key theme that has become clearer

June 4, 2026

Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme (AWRS)

AWRS Due Diligence — Are You Actually Keeping Up With Your Checks?

If your business buys alcohol from a UK wholesaler to sell on, you have a legal obligation to verify that wholesaler’s AWRS registration. Most operators know this. What most operators don’t do is check regularly — or keep any evidence that they checked at all. A Quick Recap on AWRS The Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme was introduced by HMRC in 2016, with

April 15, 2026

Alcohol Licences

Expanded Analysis regarding the Key Proposals on Alcohol Licensing Reform currently under scrutiny (March 2026)

1. Creation of a National Licensing Policy Framework (NLPF) The proposed National Licensing Policy Framework would shift much of the strategic decision‑making power over alcohol licensing away from local authorities and toward central government. According to recent analysis, the framework would act as a “central rulebook” directing how councils must interpret and apply the Licensing Act 2003 in practice. It

March 18, 2026

Alcohol Licences

Alcohol Licensing – March 2026 Updater (England & Wales)

1. What’s New This Month? Digital Age Verification (DVS) is advancing towards secondary legislation, with the Home Office shaping rules allowing certified digital identity providers to replace or supplement physical ID checks. This work includes assurance on fraud controls, data security and identity confidence levels. Government licensing reforms continue to dominate the national debate, with proposals including a National Licensing

March 9, 2026

Alcohol Licences

OTHER FORMS of ALCOHOL LICENCES

Despite our best efforts with Google search parameters, The Licensing Guys ™ receive about ten enquiries per week from the public asking us to challenge their Driving Ban, replace their Lost Driving Licence and occasionally sort out their TV Licence. However we sometimes DO receive enquiries about types of Alcohol Licences that we do not handle. These in the most

February 15, 2026

Alcohol Licences

Weekly Alcohol Licensing Bulletin covering 8th Feb–Fri 14 Feb 2026.

Welcome to this week’s WALB! Here we’ve focused on developments that matter for operators across England & Wales. Home Office drops a fresh Section 182 Guidance update (12 Feb) The Home Office has published a revised S.182 Guidance (February 2026) and updated its GOV.UK landing page. Key changes listed in the update log include: Why this matters to you: When

February 14, 2026

Alcohol Licences

Weekly Alcohol Licensing Bulletin England & Wales 4th February 2026

Welcome to this week’s update on the regulatory landscape for alcohol licensed premises acrossEngland and Wales. As always, we bring you the developments that matter to operators, landlords,and hospitality professionals—clearly explained 1. Digital Age Verification Set to Transform Alcohol Sales The Home Office is progressing work to permit Digital Verification Services (DVS) as an approvedform of age verification for alcohol

February 4, 2026

Couple drinking red wine in a vineyard on a summers day

Alcohol Licences

Overview about licensing Vineyards

Overview about licensing Vineyards Licensing a vineyard in England and Wales involves several legal and regulatory steps, depending on whether you’re growing grapes, producing wine, selling it wholesale or retail, or hosting events. Here’s a comprehensive overview: 🍇 1. Vineyard Registration All vineyards over 0.1 hectares (approx. ¼ acre) must be registered with the Food Standards Agency (FSA). Smaller vineyards

November 12, 2025