Some 17,000 establishments holding liquor licences in Scotland are now required to reapply for their licence.

The overhaul of the Scottish licensing system began Friday – the biggest change to affect the country’s hospitality industry for 30 years.

Ahead of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, which comes into effect on 1 September 2009, all pubs now have to reapply for their licences.

Licensees are also required to provide their staff with better training and to take a more responsible approach to alcohol promotion.

The cost of a Scottish licence is also expected to double – starting at £400 for the smallest category of pub. According to the Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA), the price increase is expected to cost landlords a combined £20 million. There are over 17,000 liquor licences currently in force in Scotland.

SBPA Chief Executive Patrick Browne commented on the legislation: “The rise in fees will give people a lot of pause for thought as to whether they go through with the transition process. Two thirds of premises in Scotland are freeholds and they will have serious concerns about the cost implications of the Act, which larger operators will not have.”

According to charity Alcohol Focus Scotland, the UK is in the top ten in the world for alcohol consumption per head of population. Men and women in England drink more frequently than those in Scotland, but Scots are more likely to exceed daily benchmarks. Additionally, two in five men and one in four women in Scotland exceed recommended daily limits.

By Natasha Piscitelli