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James Nicholls @jamesnicholls.bsky.social · 1d

Just noticed that the official announcement above doesn't include a link to the actual call for evidence (!!). It's here:

www.gov.uk/government/c...

Reforming the licensing system

Seeking views and evidence to develop a modern, proportionate and enabling licensing system under the Licensing Act 2003.

www.gov.uk

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James Nicholls @jamesnicholls.bsky.social · 1d

There are other proposals re digitising the system and making it easier to serve on pavements. None require core principles of accountability, conditions, or local control to be weakened. It's not clear the Govt recognises this, so full implications need to be addressed in forthcoming debates.

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James Nicholls @jamesnicholls.bsky.social · 1d

On principle licensing should be independent of the businesses it regulates. These plans risk reversing that, while weakening scrutiny and accountability. Regardless of views on whether pubs can drive economic regeneration (moot point…), this is essentially about core regulatory principles.

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James Nicholls @jamesnicholls.bsky.social · 1d

The proposals also include a fifth licensing objective to promote the economy. Pubs need support - but licensing has always existed to set guardrails against harm not promote business. This would change that primary purpose, creating new conflicts between public protection and private interests.

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James Nicholls @jamesnicholls.bsky.social · 1d

NB – though framed as boosting nightlife, the reforms would equally affect shops, supermarkets and online - where most alcohol is sold. The major threat to pubs (and public health) is the off-trade, and the reforms wouldn't rebalance this - but would reduce powers to refuse off-trade applications.

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James Nicholls @jamesnicholls.bsky.social · 1d

There’s also a proposed ‘amnesty’ on licensing conditions. Conditions allow tailored controls on e.g. promotions, door staff, layout. They're fundamental to licensing practice. Sweeping deletions are unlikely to benefit well-run pubs, but could severely limit powers to regulate problem venues.

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James Nicholls @jamesnicholls.bsky.social · 1d

The reforms would undermine this in 2 ways:

1) Creating a ‘National Licensing Policy Framework’ to act as a centralised entity directing local decisions through 'licensing circulars'

2) Giving unelected licensing officers sweeping powers to override views of elected members.

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James Nicholls @jamesnicholls.bsky.social · 1d

The current system is already permissive: applications are approved unless objections are raised, and over 90% are granted. But decisions are made by elected councillors – providing accountability in principle. And they can apply conditions to mitigate risks.

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James Nicholls @jamesnicholls.bsky.social · 1d

The plans are based on the report of a Licensing Taskforce, co-chaired by the CEO of Greene King. While headlines are about opening hours, the actual proposals are about large-scale transfer of licensing powers and reshaping the system's core (and historical) purpose. www.gov.uk/government/p...

Licensing taskforce report and government response

The industry-led licensing taskforce report on licensing policy and the government's response.

www.gov.uk

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James Nicholls @jamesnicholls.bsky.social · 1d

Plans to rapidly overhaul alcohol licensing in England and Wales have just been published. They're being sold as ‘tearing up outdated licensing rules’, but could seriously undermine democratic accountability and local control. The devil (as ever) is in the details. www.gov.uk/government/n...

Cheers to Change: Red Tape Review Could Bring More Food, Music and Fun to Your Local

The Government is launching a fast-track review to tear up outdated licensing rules that have been holding back pubs, bars and local events and we want to hear from the people who know best: landlords...

www.gov.uk

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James Nicholls @jamesnicholls.bsky.social · 8d

It was great to meet everyone. Should be a fantastic project!

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James Nicholls @jamesnicholls.bsky.social · Aug 20

Indeed - Orwellian in a different sense! Not sure I’ve come across quite such purple prose in a similar doc before. Can you think of any?

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James Nicholls @jamesnicholls.bsky.social · Aug 20

That's exactly what I thought.

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James Nicholls @jamesnicholls.bsky.social · Aug 20

The Government's response to the recent industry-dominated Licensing Taskforce report is quite a thing to behold. Regulatory capture as marketing copy... www.gov.uk/government/p...

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Reposted by James Nicholls

James Morris @jamesmorris24.bsky.social · Jul 22

I've written a piece for @addiction-ssa.org on Alcoholics Anonymous, exploring it's current role - and tensions - within the current recovery landscape 90 years after its first meetings were held. Please share 🙏

www.addiction-ssa.org/features/ess...

#alcoholicsanonymous #recovery #addiction

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Reposted by James Nicholls

Drugs: education, prevention and policy @deppjournal.bsky.social · Jul 26

Check out our new issue on moralities in drug policy. Fantastic editorial and most of the papers are open access: Studying moralities in drug policy: An editorial introduction www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Studying moralities in drug policy: An editorial introduction

Published in Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy (Vol. 32, No. 4, 2025)

www.tandfonline.com

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James Nicholls @jamesnicholls.bsky.social · Jul 7

Having observed the shift in youth drinking from ‘Is this a thing??’ 15 years ago, to many years of ‘I reckon it is due to x, y or z…’ It’s great hear to mature, informed consideration of the wider social realities that it reflects - even tho most (speaking as a parent of teens) are quite melancholy

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James Nicholls @jamesnicholls.bsky.social · Jul 7

This is a great discussion of generational change, risk, anxiety and drinking behaviours featuring @amypennay.bsky.social and @jholmessheff.bsky.social from the @ias.org.uk podcast. open.spotify.com/episode/1avJ...

Alcohol Alert June 2025

Alcohol Alert Podcast · Episode

open.spotify.com

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James Nicholls @jamesnicholls.bsky.social · Jun 12

This is incredibly sad news. Peter made a huge difference to the world. Such a loss to so many people. RIP.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Drugs campaigner Peter Krykant dies, aged 48

Peter Krykant, a former addict, set up a supervised facility from a van which he took around Glasgow.

www.bbc.co.uk

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James Nicholls @jamesnicholls.bsky.social · Jun 10

Yesterday 😞 Sly Stone: A funky life - in pictures www.bbc.com/news/article...

Sly Stone: A funky life – in pictures

The singer and front man of Sly and the Family Stone was known for his big style and even bigger hair.

www.bbc.com

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James Nicholls @jamesnicholls.bsky.social · Jun 9

RIP Sly Stone. Absolute pioneer, and also made one of the greatest cover versions ever recorded open.spotify.com/track/52Xfwd...

Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)

Sly & The Family Stone · Fresh · Song · 1973

open.spotify.com

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Reposted by James Nicholls

James Morris @jamesmorris24.bsky.social · May 31

A further (final) reply to the 'positive stigma' debate (DM if you need full text), myself and @jamesnicholls.bsky.social

The complexity of stigma demands nuanced debate www.tandfonline.com/eprint/69FCR...

The complexity of stigma demands nuanced debate

Published in Addiction Research & Theory (Ahead of Print, 2025)

www.tandfonline.com

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Reposted by James Nicholls

Prof Harry Sumnall @profhrs.bsky.social · May 28

Pleased to see the first report published by the ACMD’s standing committee on prevention. We make several recommendations to government on the importance of a whole system approach to drug prevention / www.gov.uk/government/p...

A whole-system response to drug prevention in the UK

Report on the long-term prevention of drug use and related harms among young people.

www.gov.uk

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James Nicholls @jamesnicholls.bsky.social · May 28

Moving it to the PSA is an interesting approach.. What’s your view on that?

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James Nicholls @jamesnicholls.bsky.social · May 28

Final report from the London Drugs Commission calls for cannabis to be moved from the MDA 1971 to the PSA 2016, effectively decriminalising possession, but not creating a legal retail market - on grounds that the public health risks of commercialisation outweigh potential benefits of legal supply.

DrugWise @drugwise.bsky.social · May 28

New report, "The Cannabis Conundrum - a way forward for London" is out now and concludes that the current laws are not fit for purpose and require some modification -www.london.gov.uk/sites/defaul...

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