Guidance for License Holders - Safeguarding Children on Licensed Premises

Families who live at licensed premises often maintain the same kind of routines as those living in other types of households, to care for their children and ensure they remain safe. For most families, living at premises that operate as a pub, club, or off licence presents no problems and children living there enjoy normal family life.

For some families however, living at a licensed premises can present parents/carers with challenges and circumstances that other parents/carers do not normally experience.

What are the risks?

For many parents/carers the risks associated with a licensed environment may be normalised and not perceived as an unusual or unsafe part of their everyday environment. It's important that parents/carers recognise the risks to children and workers should ensure the potential risks are discussed with parents/carers and offer advice about ways to manage risk.

Children and young people living at licensed premises, particularly where alcohol is on sale, can be exposed to various risks on a regular basis. For example, customers who:

• misuse alcohol
• use strong or offensive language
• are drunk, aggressive, violent
• engage in inappropriate behaviour (sexual acts, indecent exposure, vomiting)
• use or deal drugs and discard dangerous drug related paraphernalia
• use dangerous weapons (guns, knives etc)
• are criminal or sexual perpetrators

Noise nuisance can also affect the quality of life for children living at, or in close proximity to, a licensed premises - particularly if the pub/club hosts functions involving music or if there's an outside 'beer garden' or smoking area. Loud noise late at night may frighten a young child and can affect the child's sleeping patterns and impact on their development and education.

Managing the risks

To make sure the licensed environment remains safe and appropriate for children and young people living there, advice to parents and or carers should include:

• make sure that a responsible adult is available to supervise children in the private living quarters (it is not safe to leave a child unattended)
• ensure that the adults responsible for supervising children are not intoxicated
• child minding arrangements should be made if parents/carers are working (for example serving on the bar or tills)
• children should not work at the premises or cover if there is a shortage of staff (there are bylaws and regulations governing the hours and conditions for children's work and a permit is a legal necessity, even for family relatives)
• not to let the child or children play in the licensed area as it may be unsafe (some premises licenses have license conditions prohibiting children in the licensed area and there may be legal consequences for allowing children to play in licensed areas at certain times)
• arrangements are in place to allow parents/carers to prioritise their children's needs (for example, adequate staff should be employed to cover the business, to allow parents to attend health or school appointments or to do 'the school run')
• create a private play area that is designated and secure for residents
• secure access points to the living quarters to prevent the public entering private areas
• store alcohol safely to prevent children drinking or toddlers accidentally ingesting it (there is no safe amount of alcohol for a child, even a small amount can be lethal, particularly if the child consumes it with other drugs or prescribed medication)
• report the condition of the property or building to the business owner if the building is not in safe repair
• plan and manage licensed activities at the premises such as parties, functions, disco's and live music entertainment so that noise does not affect the wellbeing of children
• contact the police for help if customers engage in criminal or dangerous behaviour