Licensing policies

Licensing Policy Statement: alcohol

The Licensing Policy Statement sets out the Aberdeenshire Licensing Board's policy on the sale and supply of alcohol within Aberdeenshire in terms of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005

The Board's 2023 to 2028 Licensing Policy Statement (PDF 2.78B) was approved on the 25th of October 2023. View the evidence and documents which were considered by the Board when preparing this policy. 

The Board’s action plan (PDF 141KB) details the work which they will undertake in support of the policy.

The Board also publishes useful links and guidance to assist applicants and licence holders:

Statement of Principles: gambling and gaming

The Statement of Principles sets out the Aberdeenshire Licensing Board's policy in terms of the licensing of gambling and gaming within its area under the Gambling Act 2005

Full details of the board's current policy can be found on our Gambling, Gaming and Lotteries licensing page

Scheme of Delegation

The Aberdeenshire Licensing Board's decision-making process is detailed within its Combined Scheme of Delegation (PDF 275KB).

This details the Board's processes in terms of applications made under both the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Gambling Act 2005 (Gaming/Gambling).

Performance under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005

Annual functions report

Under Section 9A of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 each licensing board must prepare and publish an annual functions report. This must be published within 3 months of the end of each financial year. The report includes:

  • a statement explaining how the board has had regard to the licensing objectives and it's licensing policy statement (including any supplementary licensing policy statements) in the exercise of their functions during the financial year
  • a summary of the decisions made by or on behalf of the board during that financial year, as well as information about the number of licences held and issued under the act in the board’s area

Annual finance report

Section 9B of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 states that each licensing board must prepare and publish an annual financial report. This report shows the amount of relevant income received by the board during the financial year and the amount of relevant expenditure incurred in respect of the board’s area during that year.

The Aberdeenshire Licensing Board prepares a combined annual functions and finance report which is published each year. View all functions and finance reports.