The Tribune

By ANNELIA NIXON

Tribune Business Reporter

anixon@tribunemedia.net

Alcohol merchants already grappling with the uncertainties and delays involving a new regulatory regime now face further supervisory change with looming fee increases and the creation of a Liquor Review Board.

The latest changes, contained in the Business Licence (Amendment) Bill, 2026, build on sweeping reforms first unveiled in 2025 that introduced stricter oversight of liquor-related businesses, new registration requirements and greater scrutiny of where and how alcohol is sold.

The effort announced last year was portrayed as a major overhaul of liquor licensing rules designed to curb the proliferation of such establishments, particularly in residential communities and inner-city New Providence.

Under those reforms, all businesses selling alcohol are required to obtain a registration certificate from the Department of Inland Revenue before applying for or renewing a Business Licence. New applicants were also required to apply at least 90 days before opening to allow for public consultation and regulatory review.

Government officials said applications would be assessed based on factors such as the concentration of liquor stores in a particular area, proximity to schools and places of worship, and the suitability of premises.

The reforms also targeted business models that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic including the prohibition of walk-up liquor “cages”, drive-through alcohol sales, take-away restaurants selling alcohol through service windows, and alcohol sales by convenience stores and other non-traditional outlets.

Now, the 2026 amendments represent the next phase of that process. Among the changes is the requirement to obtain a certificate of endorsement, which will come with a fee of $250. Currently, those in the industry seeking to obtain or renew a Business Licence for a liquor establishment must pay a $100 fee for a certificate of registration.

When asked about the prospect of paying $250 for a certificate of endorsement, George Robinson Jnr, owner of Base Road Wholesale Bar, said businesses are prepared to comply.

“We made up our mind whatever it is, we just have to pay it,” he said. “You can’t go against the Government. They got five more years there, and nothing we can do about that. So we just got to go along with it. I don’t know if they are going to deduct it from our annual estimate. We just got to wait and see what happens.” 

Industry participants are also currently dealing with challenges surrounding the licensing process. Mr Robinson said the Department of Inland Revenue is currently unable to print Business Licences because of an issue affecting its system.

“In terms of printing the Business Licence, they’re having a problem with their system, so they’re not able to print the licence right now,” he said. “So they’re waiting to get that sorted out. No one really has their licence as yet.”

The delay, according to Mr Robinson, has given operators additional time to complete renovations and upgrades needed to satisfy the Government’s suitability requirements.

“So everybody has free time to do what they have to do in terms of renovations,” Mr Robinson said. Another major component of the reforms is the planned establishment of a new Liquor Review Board.

The board would review applications for certificates of endorsements, conduct public consultations for those seeking endorsement and make recommendations on whether to award a Business Licence. The move has been welcomed by operators who argued that stronger oversight is needed to ensure compliance and restore confidence in the sector.

“We welcome that, because we really need to get back to where we were,” Mr Robinson said. “We welcome the new Board and everything, and we just want to get back to where it was before and go from there.”

He added that the Board should focus on addressing long-standing concerns about illegal or non-compliant operators. “We got to be paying strict attention to those who we knew were breaking the law,” Mr Robinson said. “But until they have the new Board formed and everything, then we will go from there.”