Commentary on Sections Part 10 – Abolition of certain public bodies etc Section 278 - The Alcohol Education and Research Council
1466.This section provides for the abolition of the Alcohol Education and Research Council (AERC).
1467.The AERC was established by section 6 of the Licensing (Alcohol Education and Research) Act 1981. It was responsible for administering the Alcohol Education and Research fund, established by section 7 of the 1981 Act. The AERC used the fund to finance projects within the United Kingdom for education and research on alcohol related issues.
1468.Subsection (1) abolishes the AERC. Subsection (2) repeals the Licensing (Alcohol Education and Research) Act 1981, which established the AERC. Before it was abolished, the AERC used its powers to transfer the whole of the Alcohol Education and Research fund to a new separate charitable body. The fund was transferred to the new body, Alcohol Research UK, in March 2011. The new charitable body continues to use the fund to finance projects within the United Kingdom for research on alcohol related issues.
1469.Subsection (3) gives effect to Part 1 of Schedule 20 (part 10: consequential amendments and savings) which removes references to AERC in other primary legislation and provides for the Secretary of State to be able to carry out any activity undertaken by or duties required of or in relation to the AERC before, during or after its abolition; and for a report to be prepared on the abolition of the Council up to the date of abolition.