Booze licences on rise

There are 700 licenced premises across South Lanarkshire according to new government figures.

The area has 474 on-sale premises and another 226 off-sale only premises.

Only four other areas in Scotland have more licenced premises – City of Edinburgh (2000), Glasgow (1868), Fife (1033) and North Lanarkshire (712).

South Lanarkshire’s figures for the year ending March 31, 2016, show a marginal rise on the previous year when there were 699 licenced premises – 475 on-sale and 224 off-sale.

On top of the 700 liquor licenses for premises in South Lanarkshire, 683 occasional licenses were given in 2015/16. That is down from the 937 occasional licences granted the previous year.

Licences for premises licenses apply to places such as shops, pubs, restaurants and sports grounds. A personal license applies to individuals as every sale made on licensed premises must also be authorised by a licensed individual.

This y e a r, South Lanarkshire had 2410 personal licences, up on the 2287 from the previous year.

Across Scotland, on top of the 16,704 liquor licenses for premises (up 71 from 16,633) there were 24,778 occasional licenses granted ( up 1599 from 23,179) in 2015/16.