(OT) Coffee after 11pm at petrol stations?

what if the chip on your card is damaged and the only way to put it through will be the magnetic strip - would you rather leave your shopping behind? (in cases of petrol it might not be possible) and as mentioned there are still going to be signature cards around for disabled people so most companies will prob keep the magnetic strip method in place as well.

Unlikely that the chip would be damaged. The magnetic strip is much more vulnerable. I'd rather have the added security if the strip was taken completely out of circulation. But I suspect that it's business that are the obstacle to this change, not the card users.

The first one I had had a broken chip & functional stripe.

Technically you do need a licence to sell hot food and/or drink after 11pm (the 2003 licencing act introduced this) but I seriously doubt that anyone would be bothered by a garage selling coffee after 11pm without a licence.

A kebab van might be different though.

Tony (Chair of Licencing, Oxford City Council)

Its the Scottish hospitality.

Thanks to above link it is indeed the 2003 act however consultation period only ended on 28th November 2005. This date sticks in my mind though omitted to mention it in my intial rant, was that the assistant at Berwick on Tweed Shell told me that the law had been introduced on the 28th....

Newcastle upon Tyne and Berwick on Tweed garages have obviously been bothered about it by someone, 2 stations one BP ,one Shell , 60 miles apart, same story.

Sure this was the intention, but street trading licence would have thought would cover that, beer and cold sandwiches not a problem though, anytime.

Suspect that the licence some authorities may be insisting covers hot beverage service after 11pm dosen`t come cheap.

Do a reasonable amount of night driving and have to consider, that at the moment a thermos is an essential safety accessory if expect to be south of the border after 11pm.

It was probably just after 2am that the Police closed the A1.

Serious problem that affects areas not served by large service areas that generate enough cash to pay for whatever licencing has suddenly become mandatory.

Have emailed both BP and Shell asking for clarification, good old dead tree version may be better though along with a copy to my M.P. who also happens to be Minister for Transport.

Can`t help but think that similar enquiries made of the Ministers involved and companies that operate these sites from the Chair of Licencing from a major city might get a more complete and considered response.Would appreciate any further input you may have.

Adam

Teh 2003 came into effect on 26th November 2005 - the so called second appointed date. This is when all the new licences came into effect and sell alcohol under an old justices licence became illegal.

Someone with not enough to do - obviously!

No - Kebab vans have always needed street trading licences, just as a stall selling t-shirts would. Selling hot food and/or drink is not covered by a street trading licence after 11pm - that's when the 2003 act licence is needed.

Licences are not over cheap but in Oxford we do have a scale of charges so a licence to sell hot food ater 11pm is rather cheaper than a licence to operate a nightclub!

Yes - I agree that this is a silly side-effect of an act that has otherwise worked quite well so far. I expect something will be done about it at some point.

Cheers,

Tony

More than just one obviously...

Would have thought that kebab van requires licence and or planning permission just to be there regradless of what they are serving.

Still fail to see need for this additional licencing requirement unless it is regarded as a revenue generator for local councils?

For the benefit of myself and other readers could you outline how much a basic hot beverage licence would cost in your area?

Still waiting for a reply from BP but Shell have replied to my email:

"Thank you for your recent e-mail regarding hot drink sales between

Following the recent changes to the licensing laws, all outlets wishing to serve food or hot drinks between 23.00 and 05.00 would require a licence. Due to the costs of the licence Shell have made the decision to apply for 70 key sites across the UK.

Unfortunately all sites that do not have a licence cannot sell any hot drinks or food between the hours of 23.00 and 05.00

Yours sincerely, Matthew Wagster Customer Relations - Retail Shell U.K. Oil Products Limited Rowlandsway House, Rowlandsway, Manchester M22 5SB, United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)800 731 8888 Internet:

Woman Killed in A1 Crash

A 26 year old woman's been killed and a man seriously injured in an accident on the A1 near Berwick. It happened just after midnight when two cars collided. The injured man has been taken to Edinburgh's Royal Infirmary.

May I politely suggest that the`some point` is NOW and that even on a local scale you could investigate the situation in the area you issue licences to, should hopefully lessen the number of stories you read in your local paper similar to the above.

For those concerned enough would ask that they ask their local and national Public Servants exactly what they are doing about the situatiion, an easy way that dosen`t even cost a stamp: