
PA Media
Venues must currently be authorised to provide televised sport and entertainment to be eligible for the later opening hours
Pubs in Fife will be allowed to open later to screen certain World Cup matches this summer, including Scotland and England games.
Fife Council's licensing board has agreed that premises will be able to stay open until half an hour after games involving the two sides come to an end.
The same policy will be in place for quarter finals, the semi finals and final with venues also able to apply for specific other matches if there is "clear local demand or community interest."
Councillor Carol Lindsay, who put forward the proposals, said "The motion prioritises fixtures involving Scotland and England where we can expect the greatest level of attendances."
Scotland's opening fixture will kick off at 02:00 on June 14 when they face Haiti.
Their other two group games will take place on June 19 and 24 when they will be up against Morocco and Brazil.
The latter games both have an 23:00 start.
Venues must currently be authorised to provide televised sport and entertainment to be eligible for the later opening hours.
Those screening the matches will also be encouraged to have some form of ticketing system in operation.
Kimberley Langley, depute clerk to the licensing board, said there was "no obligation" for premises to take advantage of the extended hours.
She continued: "Any person who is taking advantage would have to comply with any conditions on their current licence."
Langley also told said at present no applications had been lodged for fan zones and confirmed that a repeat of Dunfermline Athletic's Euros screenings would not be taking place.
"Dunfermline are not doing it. They did it in the Euros and it was a success but they have decided that because of where they are situated where there are so many local residents, it could cause disruption.
"I have seen on social media that Kirkcaldy ice rink are looking to operate and that will require applications. If they want a licence for more than the current capacity they will require to come before us.
She added an occasional licence takes six weeks to process and said she would "strongly encourage them to put an application in as soon as possible".
Board convener, Councillor Tom Adams, said the decision would lay the foundations for future events.
"This is the first that I can remember that we as a board have had to deal with anything like this," he said.
"We are locking down something for the future as well here. We will never please everyone. There are always going to be licensed premises complain about us making a decision and you will get licensed premises happy with the decision.
"It is a fair and balanced decision that we are making."














































