Independent Brewers in Northern Ireland have welcomed the launch of an independent review of the Northern Irish alcohol licensing system, which they say puts small brewers in Northern Ireland at a distinct disadvantage 

Northern Ireland’s alcohol licensing system has been subject to much debate over the years and is vastly different to the much more flexible systems in England and Wales, where the Licensing Act 2003 made radical reforms which made the huge growth in community-focussed independent brewery taprooms possible.

In the Republic of Ireland, the Sale of Alcohol Bill has proposed changes to the extinguishment provision, whereby any individual seeking to open a new premises must first acquire and extinguish an existing license. In Northern Ireland, this provision is called the ‘surrender principle’ and makes it very difficult for small breweries to acquire a license to open a pub, or sell beer direct from the brewery in a taproom.

William Mayne, owner of Bullhouse Brew Co and Bullhouse East, said: “Brewers in Northern Ireland are at a significant disadvantage as a result of our archaic licensing legislation. Over 99% of beers sold in Northern Ireland are imported. As a brewery, we sell more beer in Manchester than we do in Belfast because the surrender principle creates an ‘artificial monopoly’ where access to market is controlled by the big four multinational brewers. 

He added that the current system creates three distinct areas of concern: “Firstly breweries in Northern Ireland have a vastly restricted access to the local market, Belfast has the most expensive pints in the UK (higher even than London), and we have the worst levels of alcohol related harm in the UK because people can access cheap alcohol in the supermarket and consume it at home in unregulated environments.

“Every time a supermarket opens in Northern Ireland, a community loses their local pub. We want to see a thriving evening economy where it makes sense to open more small, independent venues.”

The independent review of the Northern Irish alcohol licensing system, led by the University of Stirling, comes out of the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2021, when an amendment tabled by Matthew O’Toole MLA and supported by a majority in the Assembly was passed.

Andy Slee, Chief Executive at the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) added: “Our Northern Irish members are at a significant disadvantage in comparison to our members in the rest of the United Kingdom.

“Brewers in Northern Ireland can’t easily sell their own products direct to consumer and the vast majority of draught lines are tied to global brewers.

“Having fought hard to ensure this amendment was included as part of the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2021, we are delighted to see the launch of the review and we look forward to contributing as part of the 9 member ‘Stakeholder Reference Group.’ 

Despite the challenges facing brewers in Northern Ireland, there are now over 30 local brewers operating here. A new category of license for local producers was introduced as part of the 2021 Act, however no brewers have so far gone through the application process.

Mayne added: “Unfortunately, as licensing in Northern Ireland is handled by the Courts, the new local producers’ license still incurs many of the costs associated with obtaining any of the other types of premises’ licenses. The producers’ license only allows breweries to open to the public 12 hours per week, which makes it unviable given it would cost in the region of £10,000 just to apply for the license.” 

SIBA have worked for over 40 years to represent the interests of the growing number of independent breweries in the UK. As well as representing independent craft brewing members in the press and lobbying government on behalf of brewers, SIBA also run regional and national independent beer awards, host regional meetings for the benefit of members as well as organise the UK’s biggest beer and brewing trade event BeerX in Liverpool every March.

• Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 Section 23 committed the Department for Communities to appoint an independent person to conduct a review of the licensing system in Northern Ireland within 12 months of the Act receiving Royal Assent.
• The University of Stirling have been appointed to lead the independent review and will manage a multidisciplinary team which includes experts from the University of Stirling, Queens University Belfast, the University of Edinburgh and the University of Sheffield. 
• Section 23 was brought about following an amendment to the 2021 Bill brought by Matthew O’Toole MLA (SDLP) and supported by a majority of Assembly MLAs. It is the first major review of licensing in Northern Ireland in a generation and has been welcomed by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), the trade body representing independent breweries in the UK.