In its gruffest voice TV Licensing has vowed to crack down on evil publicans committing the heinous crime of allowing customers to watch the Rugby World Cup without a valid TV licence.
Legally speaking a TV licence is required by any pub wishing to show broadcast TV programmes to customers in the bar area. An additional TV licence would be required to cover the reception of TV programmes in any residential areas.
In its latest press release (read as "fictional work of bollocks") TV Licensing PR harlots warn that those pubs showing live games without a valid TV licence "could end up in the sin bin" (big sigh) and run the risk of a fine of up to £1,000 per offence, plus any additional costs ordered by the court.
TV Licensing claims (so take with a pinch of salt) that in the last three years its enquiry officers visited more than 44,000 businesses across the UK, including pubs, takeaway restaurants and sports clubs, to confirm if they were correctly licensed.
Goons will be on tour throughout the Rugby World Cup, with matches being broadcast until 2nd November 2019.
A TV Licensing spokesperson said: "This year's Rugby World Cup looks set to be a thrilling competition, and landlords across the land can score easy points with fans looking to soak up the atmosphere by ensuring they are properly licensed to screen the live action.
"To be fair to the honest majority who do pay we’ll be blowing the whistle on establishments that are showing live games without a licence, so our advice to landlords wanting to avoid an infringement is to check whether they need a licence rather than risk being prosecuted."
As is traditionally the case, TV Licensing has recruited an industry insider to reiterate its pearls of wisdom.
Mike Clist, Chairman of the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII), said: "Watching sport in the pub is a great British tradition, and we are sure the Rugby World Cup will prove no different. However, together with the BBC, we always like to remind licensees that they must have a current TV licence in order to publicly show live sport legally."
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