In brief: The Government of Jersey has launched a public consultation on proposed new alcohol licensing fees, following States Members’ approval of the Alcohol Licensing (Jersey) Law 2026 in March. The new fee structure aims to simplify the existing system and bring greater parity between on- and off-licensed premises. Responses are due by 6 November.
A New Law, A New Fee Structure
The BBC reports that the Government of Jersey is inviting islanders to have their say on proposed changes to alcohol licensing fees, ahead of the Alcohol Licensing (Jersey) Law 2026 coming into force in 2027. States Members gave the new law their approval back in March, and the government is now turning its attention to the practicalities of what it will actually cost to hold a licence.
The new law replaces the existing, somewhat labyrinthine system with three principal licence categories: on-licences for alcohol sold and consumed on the premises, off-licences for alcohol sold to be taken away, and event licences. Straightforward enough, one might think, though the devil, as ever, is in the detail.
The Proposed Fees
The government has set out a clear schedule of proposed fees under the new framework. According to the BBC, these are as follows:
- On-licence: £550
- Small off-licence: £200
- Large off-licence: £550
- Charity or sports club: £100
- Event licence: £60
- New application administration fee: £50
- Licence change fee: £20
- Late-opening bolt-on: £250
The distinction between small and large off-licences would be drawn using a 50 square metre threshold based on the total floor space of the premises. So your corner shop and your supermarket would not be treated the same, which seems a reasonable enough approach.
Closing the Gap Between On and Off
One of the driving forces behind the proposed changes is the acknowledged disparity in the current system. The Government of Jersey has stated that there is “a significant difference between the fees paid by on-licensed and off-licensed premises,” and that the proposed model “seeks to establish greater parity between on- and off-licence fees.”
For Jersey’s hospitality sector, which has faced considerable pressures in recent years, the prospect of a more level playing field with off-licence retailers will be welcome news. Pubs, restaurants and bars have long operated under different cost pressures compared with supermarkets and off-licences, and any move to rebalance the fee structure is likely to be viewed positively by those running on-premises businesses.
The government has indicated it intends to adopt the proposed fee structure subject to the outcome of the consultation, meaning the exercise is not purely academic. Responses can be submitted until 6 November.
Source: BBC News
