Home Office publishes updated S182 Guidance

Updates to the s.182 guidance were published on the 26th of November 2025.

On gov.uk, the Home Office has provided no specific information on that November 2026 changes. However, the updates relate to clarifying licensing authority discretion (case-by-case decisions).

A spokesperson for the Home Office said:

“The update to the Section 182 Guidance has been added to help ensure that, when determining licence applications and considering any conditions that may apply, Licensing Authorities have in mind the need to support the development of a thriving hospitality sector while still upholding the existing statutory licensing objectives.

The new line in the guidance is 1.18, when making licensing decisions, all licensing authorities should consider the need to promote growth and deliver economic benefits”.

The s.182 guidance is provided to licensing authorities in relation to the carrying out of their functions under the 2003 Act.

It also provides information to magistrates’ courts hearing appeals against licensing decisions and has been made widely available for the benefit of those who run licensed premises, their legal advisers and the general public.