Alcohol licensing: how to object to a licence

Under the Licensing Act 2003, a premises licences is required for the sale and supply of alcohol. These are issued by the licensing authority in which a premises is situated. Objections can be raised against an application for a new licence or a variation of an existing licence. It is also possible to trigger a review of an existing licence.

The term used in the 2003 Act, regulations, and associated guidance is not “objections” but “representations”. All representations must be relevant to at least one of the licensing objectives:

• the prevention of crime and disorder.
• public safety.
• the prevention of public nuisance.
• the protection of children from harm.

This briefing gives an overview of the process for objecting to licences. It draws on Home Office guidance for licensing authorities, issued under section 182 of the 2003 Act (August 2023).

The 2003 Act applies in England and Wales.