LAWYER Phil Crier is seen here enjoying a pint down the local - but there's a serious side to what he is doing. He is advising liquor licensees, including Dave Gelder, pictured, of the Talisman at Park Gate, near Fareham, on a legal shake-up regarding the selling of alcohol.

Thousands of businesses will be affected in the south.

They include pubs, restaurants, nightclubs, caf bars, theatres, cinemas, leisure clubs, entertainment venues, members' clubs, supermarkets, convenience stores, off-licences, wine warehouses and late-night takeaways.

Phil, the head of licensing at south coast legal firm Blake Lapthorn Linnell, is advising leisure businesses on how to act now to retain their liquor licences.

The government has just announced that all existing operators of leisure venues selling alcohol or providing entertainment must start to apply for conversion of their existing licences from February 2005.

Phil said: "Under the new Licensing Act, all alcohol and entertainment licences will be administered by local authorities.

"All operators of leisure venues will have a transitional period of six months from February 7, 2005 to apply to convert their existing licences to a new premises licence.

"Individual liquor licence holders will also need to apply for a new personal licence during the same time period.

"Failure to apply could jeopardise the ability to continue trading when all licensing responsibility transfers over to local authorities later in the year.

"All leisure operators, large or small, will be affected by the new law."