News

Source - sllp.co.uk
 

Glasgow Licensing Board has refused an application by Lidl on the basis of the ‘public health objective’.

 

At its June sitting the Board considered 13 applications by the supermarket operator seeking a variation of the off-sales capacity in their city supermarkets. In 9 of the 10 cases where the capacity was to be increased, application had also been made to extend licensed hours.

 

The Board’s Convener Stephen Dorman told Lidl’s lawyer, Andrew Hunter, that increased alcohol displays would result in more alcohol sales to the detriment of public health and prices would be driven down.

 

Mr Hunter told the Board that his clients were increasing and decreasing the size of alcohol displays as part of a national refit program. There would be no impact on prices, nor was there any evidence that an increase in capacity would result in a corresponding increase in sales.

 

Mr Hunter was invited to abandon the capacity increases, in which case the Baord would be in a position to grant the applications for longer licensed hours. The modifications were agreed, but in one case where no extra hours were sought the application was refused.

 

An application by Scottish Midland Co-operative Society also seeking a larger display was also rejected.