[Editorial] The licensing of alcohol retail is a key policy mechanism in alcohol harm prevention, and the most widely used system globally for regulating the number, density, operating hours and retail practices of alcohol outlets [1, 2] (pp. 129–155). Under the Licensing Act (2003), licensing in England and Wales is governed by local authority committees, made up of elected councilors, albeit within a highly permissive framework requiring all applications to be granted unless representations are lodged by ‘responsible authorities’ and accepted by the licensing committee. In April 2025 the UK Treasury (economic and finance ministry) launched a ‘licensing taskforce’ to review the 2003 Licensing Act [3] and propose a ‘more agile and enabling approach to [alcohol retail] licensing with a greater focus on growth’ (p. 3).... [Read full editorial]

[See also, Licensing taskforce report and government response]