Coronation hours for alcohol sales
The Licensing Act 2003 (Coronation Licensing Hours Order 2023) received Royal Assent on 2 May 2023.
To help the nation celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III, licensing hours will be extended for 2 hours, from 11pm on Friday 5th, Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th May 2023.
The extended hours apply to premises used for the on-sale of alcohol, the provision of late-night refreshment (if the premises are also licensed to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises) and the provision of regulated entertainment. The extension does not apply to off-sales of alcohol.
There is a question mark over the licensed premises that treat the sale of alcohol in their outside space as off sales. The Order would appear not to extend hours in these areas.
New UK Tipping law
The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 also received Royal Assent on 2 May.
This Bill makes it unlawful for businesses to hold back service charges from their employees. The measures are expected to come into force in 2024, following a consultation and secondary legislation.
The Bill also gives employees the power to take any grievances related to tips to an employment tribunal, which can award a compensatory order of up to £5,000. A tribunal will also be able to give a similar order to every other affected employee, even if they have not brought a claim themselves.
The Government estimates that more than 2 million workers will have their tips protected and be able to view an employer’s tipping record.
The Secretary of State is likely to publish a Code of Practice for the purpose of promoting fairness and transparency in the distribution of qualifying tips. This Code of Practice will follow after a consultation process.
Both of the new rules for the coronation and for tipping apply only to England and Wales.