What are you interested in?

The Institute of Licensing’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs) give members a direct route into the latest developments across key areas of licensing. Each group brings together practitioners with shared interests, providing targeted updates, consultation opportunities and curated resources to help members stay ahead of emerging issues.

Members can join any of the groups below as part of their IoL membership. Within each group you’ll find links to relevant forum discussions, guidance, legislation updates and other useful material.

Special interest groups

• Alcohol and entertainment – Covering all aspects of alcohol, entertainment and late-night refreshment licensing law and practice.
• Animal licensing – Focusing on animal licensing across the UK, including developing policy and regulatory changes.
• Beauty & aesthetics – Covering non-surgical cosmetic licensing, special treatments, acupuncture, piercing and tattooing.
• Gambling – Addressing gambling, betting and lotteries licensing law and practice.
• LGR and devolution – Following developments in local government reorganisation and devolution proposals.
• Martyn’s Law – Tracking the evolving framework under the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025.
• Taxis – Covering taxi and private hire licensing, including autonomous vehicles and future transport models.
• Tobacco and vapes – Focusing on tobacco and vape licensing across the UK.

Online resources

Alongside the SIGs, members also have access to a suite of online tools designed to keep you informed of new and developing legislation. These include:

• Legislation Tracker – monitoring the progress of relevant Bills and statutory instruments.
• Developing Legislation – highlighting proposals, consultations and early-stage policy work.

Both resources are updated regularly and provide a quick way to stay on top of changes affecting your area of practice.