The licensing authorities also consider the suitability of the premises, although responsibility for this aspect is blurred, being shared with local authorities. These licences may be for beer, cider and wines or beer, cider, wines and spirits. Off' Licences - authorising the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises. Again, these licences may be for beer, cider and wines or beer, cider, wines and spirits. On' licences include restaurant and residential licences.
Many hotels obtain combined residential and restaurant licences.
A provision of the Licensing Act requires a liquor licence to be refused to a restaurant the clientele of which is habitually made up of under 18's unaccompanied by adults. Licensing Justices must be satisfied that the bar area for which application is being made is a suitable environment for children under 14 to be present. Children's certificates are normally operational until 9pm but the Justices can specify earlier or later times. As only a small number of applications for children's certificates are refused, the explanation of this small proportion of pubs with certificates is, presumably, that the large majority of licensees have not applied for certificates. There are specific provisions for extending the permitted hours of on-licensed premises.