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Alcohol Glossary

Licensing authority

Licensing and retailEngland and Wales

Summary: In England and Wales, a licensing authority is the local body, usually the council, responsible for premises licence and other alcohol-licensing decisions in its area.

Reference: Alcohol licensing (opens in a new tab)

Home Office · Reference checked 21 July 2026

Where to look: Overview and UK GDPR, opening paragraphs

The summary above is a concise paraphrase of the cited material. It is not a quotation or a complete statement of law.

Glossary last reviewed .