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Important Notice: Closure of Licensing SAVI

Since our launch, Licensing SAVI has been proud to support thousands of venues across England and Wales in raising safety standards and reducing vulnerability within the night-time economy.

The initiative has operated for five years however, after review, is to close with effect from 30 April 2026.

·       Effective closure date: 30 April 2026

·       Existing accreditations: If a venue is currently accredited their Licensing SAVI accreditation status remains active for the remainder of their one-year accreditation period, with access to all assets. However they will not be able to renew their accreditation once it expires

·       New applications: We will not be accepting new accreditation applications from venues

Who to Contact Now:

·       For Licensing SAVI specific queries: Please contact 

·       For licensing advice & safety concerns: Please contact your local Police Alcohol Licensing Officer (PALO)

·       For regulatory or statutory enquiries: Please contact your Local Authority Licensing Team

Keeping Patrons Safe this Halloween

Keeping Patrons Safe this Halloween

Halloween is a great opportunity for pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants to enjoy fun time with customers who may want to celebrate in ghoulish costumes, masks and wacky make-up.

Whilst licensees and managers enjoy this timely and welcome boost to their income on the last weekend of October, they should be ready to brief their staff on how best to keep customers safe.

The Licensing SAVI top tips for patron safety at Halloween are:

  • Check Premises Licence conditions to ensure plans are compliant, especially when considering using space differently such as outside areas which may not have been used before; and submit Temporary Event Notices where necessary as early as possible

  • Review your policies and risk assessments to ensure they are fit for purpose

  • Record changes to operating practices in risk assessments and audit trails

  • Ensure staff are wearing branded uniforms/badges so customers know who to ask for assistance

  • Consider how you will facilitate queues outside your venue or large numbers arriving together – review your entry/exit plans

  • Remind staff of 21/25 age-identification schemes, especially as Halloween costumes and make-up could make under-age teenagers look older

  • Use polycarbonate or similar drinking vessels, decant any bottles to reduce risk of injury or harm, and ask staff to clear rubbish quickly and remove to secure storage

  • Run sensible drinking promotions and make free water available

  • Encourage staff to be on the look-out for drink spiking, monitor unattended drinks and provide immediate assistance to customers feeling dizzy, disorientated or showing signs of intoxication; consider signage warning not to leave drinks unattended (free resources available here)

  • Brief staff on the ‘Ask for Angela’ campaign to assist customers who feel unsafe, vulnerable or threatened by discreetly asking staff for ‘Angela’– a code-word that says a customer needs help, such as by re-uniting them with a friend, seeing them to a taxi, or by calling venue security and/or the police

  • Remind staff it is an offence to serve a drunk person (or on behalf of a drunk person)

  • Display numbers of reputable taxi companies and signpost customers via well-lit routes to nearby transport hubs. Consider your dispersal plans when everyone leaves at the same time

  • When decorating the venue for Halloween use battery-operated candles or glow sticks for example in carved pumpkins – do not use open flames

  • Check smoke alarms are working and keep decorations clear of exits to allow for escape in emergency

  • Check staff know emergency procedures.

By following the above guidance, your staff and customers can enjoy a safer socialising experience this Halloween.

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