If you are planning an event requiring a special licence to sell or supply alcohol over Christmas – New Year or in January 2026, you need to get your application in November 2025 to prevent potential disruption to your event plans.
There is a statutory 20 working day requirement under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 for the processing of special licence applications and the Act excludes weekends and the period between 19th December until 12th January 2026 from being counted as a ‘working day’. The District Licensing Committee will only consider late special licence applications under exceptional circumstances where the event could not have been predicted earlier.