Review of Alcohol Licensing Fees - Steering Group: Recommendations to Scottish Ministers

Research - Commissioning

13. Following a competitive tendering exercise, the Scottish Government commissioned 4-consulting to provide the independent analysis to support this review.

14. The aim of the research was to evaluate the current alcohol licensing fees regime and consider the efficacy of other potential structures to inform the Scottish Government's proposed reform of the fees regime. The research had three main objectives:

• Establish a factual baseline:

How much income do Licensing Boards currently receive from the range of alcohol licensing fees? How much does it cost Licensing Boards to administer the licensing regime? Do the boards achieve full cost recovery of direct and indirect costs? If additional funds are made, are these finances ring-fenced?

• Evaluate the current fees regime:

Do stakeholders feel that the current system is fair and proportionate to all sections of the trade? Which of the current fees are most/least appropriate? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the system?

• Evaluate these potential alternative options for premises licence applications/ annual fees:

Are the proposed alternatives workable? Do stakeholders feel that they are fair and proportionate to all sections of the trade? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed alternatives?

• A turnover-based system
• A system based on square footage of the premises
• Revision of the existing system