Richard, perhaps you would like to explain this to my local Enforcement Officer, who was employed (some time ago) in anticipation of the extra work as a result of what is now, the Licensing Act 2003?

You may well be right but it is rather a small point of difference. This officer is employed by the Licensing Dept and it is the Council as the local Licensing Authority who will make the policy, whoever is to enforce it. If this policy includes sessions etc as regulated entertainment - this must be enforced.

Now it is true that as the local authority is set to receive money from Premises Licenses irespective of entertainment permission, so we should not have the 'cash cow' driving their enforcement activities. However, in the case of coffee bars and cafes - the money will only come from those who need Premises Licenses in order to provide regulated entertainment. So not much has really changed there. If these places start to stage entertainment without a Premises Licence, the Council will insist on their money and will (get the police) to prevent the entertainment.

One of the effects of the new Act is that making music without a licence is as much an illegal unlicensed activity as selling alcohol without one.