Commentary on Sections Part 1.Licensing Section 18: Prohibition on self-service and sales by vending machines
This section introduces a new Article 54A in the Licensing Order (Prohibition on self-service and sales by vending machines). It prevents the supply of intoxicating liquor not made under the direct supervision of a licensee or a member of staff.
Article 54A gives the Department a power to make regulations permitting, where certain conditions are satisfied, the sale of intoxicating liquor by way of a vending machine to residents in hotels, guest houses and pubs which provide accommodation.  It also adds a new offence (punishable by a fine up to £1,000) for selling intoxicating liquor by self-service or via vending machines.
Paragraph (3) extends the prohibition to the use of an “honesty box” whereby, in the absence of the licence holder or any other member of staff, persons are trusted to pay for intoxicating liquor by placing money in a container provided for that purpose, or agree to pay for by recording the intoxicating liquor appropriated by a process provided by the licence holder.
Subsection (2) makes a consequential amendment to Part 1 of Schedule 10A (penalty points for offences punishable with level 3 fine) to take account of the introduction of new Article 54A.