The Licensing Act 2003 (UEFA Women’s European Football Championship Licensing Hours) Order 2025

Made: 2nd July 2025

Coming into force: 3rd July 2025

The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 172(1) and (3)(c) and 197(2)(b) of the Licensing Act 2003[^f00001].

The Secretary of State considers that the celebration period in relation to which this Order is made marks an occasion of exceptional national significance.

The Secretary of State has consulted such persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate in accordance with section 172(4) of the Licensing Act 2003.

In accordance with section 197(4)[^f00002] of the Licensing Act 2003, a draft of this Order has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

Citation, commencement, interpretation and extent

1

• (1) This Order may be cited as the Licensing Act 2003 (UEFA Women’s European Football Championship Licensing Hours) Order 2025[^f00003] and comes into force on the day after the day on which it is made.

• (2) In this Order—

• “celebration period” means the period beginning with 22nd July 2025 and ending with 28th July 2025;

• “home nation team” means a women’s senior football team representing England or Wales;

• “tournament” means the 2025 UEFA European Women’s Championship[^f00004] football competition held in Switzerland.

• (3) This Order extends to England and Wales.

Specified times

2

For the purposes of article 3, the “specified times” are—

• (a) the period of two hours beginning at 11 p.m. on the day of the tournament semi-final match, which is scheduled to take place on 22nd July 2025, provided that a home nation team plays in that match;

• (b) the period of two hours beginning at 11 p.m. on the day of the tournament semi-final match, which is scheduled to take place on 23rd July 2025, provided that a home nation team plays in that match; and

• (c) the period of two hours beginning at 11 p.m. on the day of the final match of the tournament, which is scheduled to take place on 27th July 2025, provided that a home nation team plays in that match.

Licensing Hours

3

• (1) Subject to paragraph (3), premises licences[^f00005] and club premises certificates[^f00006] to which paragraph (2) applies have effect (to the extent that it is not already the case) during the celebration period as if the specified times were included in the opening hours[^f00007].

• (2) This paragraph applies to premises licences and club premises certificates by virtue of which the opening hours immediately precede or continue into the specified times.

• (3) The opening hours are not to be treated by virtue of paragraph (1) as including the specified times insofar as they relate to the use of premises for—

• (a) the sale by retail of alcohol for consumption off the premises,

• (b) the supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club to, or to the order of, a member of the club for consumption off the premises,

• (c) the provision of regulated entertainment[^f00008], or

• (d) the provision of late night refreshment[^f00009].

Signed

Diana Johnson — Minister of State — Home Office — 2nd July 2025

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

Explanatory Note

This Order provides for the extension of licensing hours for licensed premises and clubs on the days of a semi-final or final match of the 2025 UEFA Women’s European Football Championship, if a team representing England or Wales plays in that match.

The Secretary of State considers the climax of the tournament, from the day of the first semi-final match on 22nd July 2025, to the end of the final match on 27 July 2025, to be a celebration period for the purposes of section 172(1) of the Licensing Act 2003.

In particular, article 3 makes provision for any licensed premises or clubs which would normally be open for the on-site sale or supply of alcohol until or after 11pm (but closed before 1am) to remain open until 1am.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen. An economic note is annexed to the Explanatory Memorandum which is available alongside this instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk and is also available from the Alcohol Licensing Policy Team of the Home Office, 2 Marsham Street, SW1P 4DF.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 2003 c. 17.

[^f00002]: Amendments have been made to section 197 of the Licensing Act 2003 (“the 2003 Act”) but none are relevant to this Order. There are prospective amendments to section 197 which are not relevant to this Order.

[^f00003]: The initials “UEFA” refer to the Union of European Football Associations of Route de Genève 46, 1260 Nyon, Switzerland which is an organisation entered in the register of companies under the Swiss Civil Code with registration number CH 550-1017474-1.

[^f00004]: The tournament is commonly referred to as the “UEFA Women’s Euro 2025”.

[^f00005]: See section 11 of the 2003 Act for the definition of “premises licence”.

[^f00006]: See section 60 of the 2003 Act for the definition of “club premises certificate”.

[^f00007]: See section 172(5) of the 2003 Act for the definition of “opening hours”.

[^f00008]: See Schedule 1 to the 2003 Act for the definition of “provision of regulated entertainment”.

[^f00009]: See Schedule 2 to the 2003 Act for the definition of “provision of late night refreshment”.