<P> The Licensing Act 2003 ( c 17 ) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . The Act establishes a single integrated scheme for licensing premises in England and Wales ( only ) which are used for the sale or supply of alcohol , to provide regulated entertainment , or to provide late night refreshment . Permission to carry on some or all of these licensable activities is now contained in a single licence -- the premises licence -- replacing several different and complex schemes . Responsibility for issuing licences now rests with local authorities , specifically London boroughs , Metropolitan boroughs , unitary authorities , and district councils , who took over this power from the Justices of the Peace . These authorities are each required to establish a Licensing Committee , which acts in a quasi-judicial capacity under the Act . The powers of the Act came fully into force at midnight at the start of 24 November 2005 . </P>
who is responsible for establishing local licensing forum
local authorities district councils unitary authorities