<P> The consumption of alcohol itself is not considered a "licensable activity" under the new Licensing Act . Therefore, "drinking - up time" (DUT) has no legal meaning and has disappeared . For many years ten minutes (and later extended to twenty minutes) was the legal dispensation which allowed the consumption of alcohol to continue after the official closing time, which in recent times meant that customers could still drink what they had already bought until 23: 20, subject to the licensee's discretion . After that time consumption had to also stop . </P> <P> With the end of standard permitted hours, this concession became irrelevant and there is no mention of DUT in the 2003 Act . Instead, applicants for premises licences can specify the maximum period (their "Opening Hours") for which they wish to allow their customers to stay after the time at which the sale of alcohol ends ("the terminal hour") within their Operating Schedule . Some licences do not specify opening hours at all, which allows an unspecified drinking up time, determined only by the licensee's discretion . In contrast, some licensees call for "last orders" twenty minutes (or more) before the end of the opening hours specified on their premises' licence . </P> <P> Licensing law in Scotland was overhauled by the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, which came into force in September 2009 following a transition period starting in February 2008 . The new system covers alcohol sales only, but otherwise is, in most particulars, identical to the system created in England and Wales by the Licensing Act 2003 . There are a number of significant differences, such as a "duty to trade" and attempts to control the irresponsible sale of alcohol through curbs on price discounting and other promotions which may lead to excessive consumption . Another law, starting from 1st May 2018, states that alcohol cannot be sold for under 50p per unit . </P> <P> Licensing proposals in Northern Ireland were first announced by the Northern Ireland Office in 2004, leading to a consultation in 2005, again very similar to the Scottish and English Acts . The proposals triggered much initial opposition, even from some parts of the licensed trade . These proposals are not currently proceeding . </P>

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