On 26 March 2026, Clackmannanshire Licensing Board made its decision in relation to additional licensed hours connected to the World Cup. The detail of the decision is set out below.
For all matches (group stages and beyond) involving the Scotland team that have a scheduled kick off time prior to the terminal hour shown on the operating plan, the Board approved a general extension of licensed hours.
This general extension will allow a category of licensed premises to remain open for the duration of the match, and for 15 minutes after the final whistle.
The category of premises to which the general extension applies to is as follows:
The additional hours granted by the Licensing Board under the general extension are automatically available to qualifying premises.
There is no need to apply for these hours.
The Board additionally decided that those premises wishing to televise the Scotland v Haiti match, which has a scheduled kick off time of 0200hrs (GMT) on 14 June 2026, will have to apply for that right using the extended hours online application process.
Such an application would be available to those premises in the category specified above.
This process will also apply to any other match involving the Scotland team that has a scheduled kick off after the terminal hour shown on the premises licence operating plan.
The deadline for extended hours applications relating to the Scotland v Haiti match is no later than close of business on 30 April 2026.
Applications for other qualifying Scotland matches should be made as soon as possible after the match details are confirmed.
It is accepted that all Scotland matches are a matter of local or national significance for the purposes of Section 68 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act, 2005.
Extended hours applications can only be made by the Premises Licence Holder.
Some licensed premises may wish to televise many, if not all of the matches during the World Cup final stages, and as long as they have televised sport on their operating plan and the match ends prior to the terminal hour they will be able to do so.
However, many matches will start or finish after the terminal hour. In the case of those matches, premises licence holders wishing to remain open after the terminal hour to allow patrons to watch televised football, will have to apply for extended hours using the online application process.
It is accepted that events involving the Scottish team are in the category of an event of 'local or national significance', but it has been decided by the Licensing Board that matches involving other nations are not.
Licence holders seeking to televise matches not involving Scotland and out of core licensed hours will have to demonstrate to the Licensing Board that they are hosting a 'special event' to be catered for on the premises. The application form has a section where the nature of the special event can be explained.
Extended hours applications will all be determined by the Licensing Board, and on grant may be subject to additional local licensing conditions.
Local licensing conditions may include conditions of the following types:
In normal circumstances applications for extended hours must be lodged at least 42 days before the event. Clackmannanshire Licensing Board accepts that this may not be possible for all matches. The Board has agreed procedures to handle extended hours applications lodged with shorter notice periods where a good reason for the short notice exists.
On licensed premises where children (under 16yrs) and young persons (16 and 17yrs) may be permitted onto the premises by virtue of the terms of the operating plan, licence holders are expected to take extra care to ensure that they can comply with the Protecting Children and Young Persons from Harm licensing objective.
In general terms it is unlikely to ever be suitable to allow children to be on licensed premises into the early morning, except where they may be attending a family celebration where food, soft drinks and family orientated entertainment is provided. Please refer to Clackmannanshire Licensing Board's Statement of Licensing Policy.
Licence holders should contact the Licensing Standards Officer to discuss suitability of televised football events if they are thinking about allowing persons under 18 to be on the premises.
Licensing Team
Kilncraigs, Greenside Street, Alloa, FK10 1EB
Tel: 01259 450000
Email: licensing@clacks.gov.uk