Alcohol licensing hours

March 07, 2014 at 8:19 PM

You have been a few to contact us recently to report that you were refused to buy alcohol on a Sunday after 10 am, being told that off licence shops were only allowed to sell alcohol from 12.30 pm on a Sunday.

Let's be clear, the Scottish law (Scotland Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Act 2010)) states very clearly that Scottish stores and supermarkets can only sell alcohol between 10am and 10pm Monday to Sunday although core hours can very occasionally be extended or reduced by the local licensing board.

Local licensing laws can grant extensions to the core hours but it is up to the individual outlet whether they offer alcohol for sale for fewer hours than the law permits.  In practice, very few will but the Sunday morning one was a controversial amendment when it came in in the Bill. It may be that smaller stores don't want the extra hassle, or security, of selling before the old start time, which was 12.30.  Some smaller stores have junior staff working at weekends who may not be old enough (18) to sell alcohol.  We have heard of one or two who refuse to sell on a Sunday morning for religious reasons.

So unless your local off licence can evidence that they were granted a reduction to the core hours by their licensing board, their alcohol selling time IS 10am to 10pm Monday to Sunday.

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