Legislation establishing a new kind of liquor licence specifically for tourism events has been passed by the House of Assembly.

The new Liquor Licence Amendment Act 2016 also increases the fees payable for other kinds of liquor licences with the exception of member’s club licences that will remain the same.

Initially the statute had sought to increase the cost of member’s club licences from $375 to $1,000.

However, after the Progressive Labour Party raised concerns over how the move could adversely affect member’s clubs, the Bermuda Government amended the proposed statute to keep the fee at the same level.

Attorney-General Trevor Moniz told MPs that the new tourism event licence would allow successful applicants to sell alcoholic drinks for up to three days. He said the maximum time limit over a three-day period was between 6pm on the first day to 2am on the third day.

He revealed the licence was not confined to the upcoming Heroes’ Weekend event and that fee would be $150 for a one-day event, $300 for a two-day, and $450 for a three-day.

Mr Moniz said that the fee structure decision had followed an “exhaustive review”. The Act states that to qualify for a tourism event licence the event has to be approved by the chairman of the Bermuda Tourism Authority. Applicants must then go through the normal procedure of obtaining a licence through the Liquor Licensing Authority.

The licence itself will specify the time period within which alcoholic drinks can be sold and the exact location where they may be sold.

Shadow Attorney-General Michael Scott told the House that the Opposition broadly agreed with the new legislation, describing the licence as a useful string in the bow of the island’s tourism product.

However, Mr Scott said that the PLP “took great issue” with the rise in fees.

PLP MP Kim Wilson raised concerns over what exactly qualified as a “tourism event” and whether the Bermuda Tourism Authority had the authority to approve an event as such.

Mr Moniz said the creation of the new licence was about “getting the right balance”.

“We are trying not to provide a rigid definition for what a tourism event is, which is why it has been left open-ended.

“I don’t know what the panic is about and I would urge the Opposition to let the thing go forward.”