APLH Licensing Objectives 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What are the four licensing objectives under the Licensing Act 2003?
- Preventing underage drinking, reducing drunk driving, reducing domestic violence, and protecting public health
- The prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm (Correct answer)
- Reducing alcohol consumption, protecting local residents, promoting tourism, and preventing drug use
- Controlling opening hours, limiting noise, preventing violence, and improving public health
Correct answer: The prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm
The four licensing objectives — prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and protection of children from harm — are the framework within which all licensing decisions must be made.
Question 2: Which licensing objective is engaged when a bar has a persistent problem with violence or fighting on its premises?
- Protection of children from harm
- Prevention of crime and disorder (Correct answer)
- Prevention of public nuisance
- Public safety
Correct answer: Prevention of crime and disorder
Violence and fighting on or around licensed premises directly engages the prevention of crime and disorder objective — the licensing authority can impose conditions or revoke the licence to address this.
Question 3: Which licensing objective is engaged when a late-night venue's music causes residents to complain about excessive noise?
- Public safety
- Prevention of public nuisance (Correct answer)
- Prevention of crime and disorder
- Protection of children from harm
Correct answer: Prevention of public nuisance
Noise, smells, light pollution, and queuing behaviour that disturbs residents all engage the prevention of public nuisance objective — licensing conditions can be attached to address these impacts.
Question 4: Under the Licensing Act 2003, the 'protection of children from harm' objective is concerned primarily with:
- Preventing children from being in any licensed premises
- Protecting children from exposure to alcohol, adult entertainment, and other harms associated with licensed premises (Correct answer)
- Requiring all staff to have DBS checks
- Restricting children's portions of alcoholic beverages
Correct answer: Protecting children from exposure to alcohol, adult entertainment, and other harms associated with licensed premises
The objective protects children from alcohol, sexual entertainment, and other harms — it does not require children to be excluded from all licensed premises, but requires positive steps to prevent exposure to harm.
Question 5: Which licensing objective is engaged by a concern that the exit of a nightclub with inadequate security creates risks of injury from overcrowding?
- Prevention of crime and disorder
- Public safety (Correct answer)
- Prevention of public nuisance
- Protection of children from harm
Correct answer: Public safety
Public safety covers physical safety risks including fire safety, evacuation, overcrowding, and the safety of the fabric of the premises — inadequate exits and overcrowding are public safety concerns.
Question 6: The licensing objectives under the Licensing Act 2003 must be considered by the licensing authority when:
- Only when a complaint has been made about a premises
- When determining any application for a licence, variation, or review, and when deciding what conditions to attach (Correct answer)
- Only when criminal activity has been proved
- Only when the police make a formal representation
Correct answer: When determining any application for a licence, variation, or review, and when deciding what conditions to attach
The four licensing objectives are the mandatory framework for every licensing decision — they must always be the authority's primary consideration when granting, modifying, or revoking licences.
APLH Licensing Objectives 1
What are the four licensing objectives under the Licensing Act 2003?