Premises in Glasgow providing certain types of Entertainment require a Public Entertainment Licence. In 1983 the Licensing Authority decided that the following activities constituted Entertainment:

• Dance Halls / Discotheques that do not have a Liquor Licence
• Exhibitions
• Fairgrounds
• Boxing, Judo or Karate Shows
• Circuses
• Snooker, Billiard and Pool Halls that do not have a Liquor Licence
• Theatres
• Public Shows
• Sunbeds
• Ice Rinks

The Licensing Authority also decided in 1983 that the following types of Entertainment and Premises should be exempt from the requirement to have a Public Entertainment Licence:

• Gala Days, Fetes and other similar Outdoor Events of a small scale community nature
• School Halls
• Church Halls

Previously only premises providing certain types of Entertainment where there was a payment of money or money’s worth for admittance to or use of the facilities required a Public Entertainment Licence. Due to a change in the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, from 1 April 2012 a Public Entertainment Licence is required where premises are being used to provide Entertainment whether or not there is a charge (money or otherwise) for the Entertainment. On 23rd February 2012, the Licensing and Regulatory Committee decided that a Public Entertainment Licence shall not be required in respect of premises or activities where Entertainment is being provided on a non-commercial basis for a temporary period not exceeding 6 weeks. This step was taken by the committee in order to reduce the impact of changes to the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. The committee also concluded that a six month review and consultation on how all forms of public entertainment are licensed in the city should be undertaken.