A public consultation on alcohol and late night refreshment licensing statistics was held in October 2018, and in response data are now collected from licensing authorities (LAs) every other year using a reduced questionnaire. This has reduced the burden on LAs whilst ensuring the continuity of key headline statistics. Data for the year ending 31 March 2020 were not collected due to the COVID-19 pandemic which began on 12 March 2020. As such, data have not been collected in each of the last three years, so in this publication comparisons are made with 2018 to provide a measure of change over time.

Businesses, organisations and individuals who want to sell or supply alcohol in England and Wales must have a licence or other authorisation from a licensing authority – usually a local council. The law and policy governing this area is overseen by the Home Office. The types of businesses and organisations that need alcohol licences might include pubs and bars, cinemas, theatres, nightclubs, late-opening cafes, takeaways, village and community halls, shops and supermarkets.

As at 31 March 2022, there were:

• 817,100 personal licences, a 13% increase compared with 31 March 2018 (723,800)
• 222,500 premises licences, a 5% increase compared with 31 March 2018 (212,800)
• 13,500 club premises certificates, a 4% decrease compared with 31 March 2018 (14,100)
• 10,600 premises with 24-hour alcohol licences, a 31% increase compared with 31 March 2018 (8,100)
• 189 cumulative impact areas in place