Alcohol Licensing

Personal Licence: What It Is, Who Needs One and How to Get One

The personal alcohol licence explained: the APLH course, the application, the cost, how long it lasts and what it lets you do

A personal licence is the licence held by a person, not a building. It lets the holder sell alcohol, or authorise other staff to sell it, at a premises that has its own premises licence. Every venue that sells alcohol must name one personal licence holder as its designated premises supervisor, and in practice most pubs and bars want two or three so the business does not stop when the DPS is on holiday. The licence is issued by the council where you live, lasts indefinitely since 2015, and is portable between employers. This article covers who needs one, the course and the criminal record check, how to apply, what it costs and the situations in which a personal licence can be suspended or forfeited.

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Key takeaways

A personal licence lets an individual sell or authorise the sale of alcohol at a licensed premises; every venue needs at least one holder as its DPS.

You need the Level 2 APLH qualification and a basic DBS check before applying to the council where you live; the fee is £37.

Personal licences no longer expire, but you must report address changes and convictions.

Relevant convictions can lead to suspension or forfeiture, so keep a second holder on the team.

Who Needs a Personal Licence

The Licensing Act 2003 does not require every member of bar staff to hold a personal licence. It requires that every sale of alcohol is made or authorised by a personal licence holder, and that every premises licence authorising alcohol sales names a designated premises supervisor who holds one. So the DPS must have a personal licence, and at least one holder must be authorising sales, which can be done in writing so that the holder does not need to be on the premises. Most operators put two or three managers through the licence so cover exists for holidays and departures. Staff who serve alcohol under authorisation do not need one, though many employers put supervisors through it anyway because the course is short and the knowledge is useful.

The Qualification: Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders

Before applying you need an accredited licensing qualification, usually the Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders (APLH), run by awarding bodies such as Highfield, BIIAB and Laser Learning. It is a one-day course with a 40-question multiple choice exam covering the licensing objectives, the roles of the DPS and personal licence holder, the offences, the rules on children and the powers of the police and licensing authority. Courses run in classrooms and online and typically cost between £120 and £200 including the exam. Scotland has its own regime under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 with the Scottish Certificate for Personal Licence Holders and mandatory refresher training every five years.

How to Apply and What It Costs

Apply to the licensing authority for the council area where you live, not where you work. You will need the qualification certificate, a basic DBS disclosure issued within the last month, two passport photographs with one endorsed, the completed application form and disclosure of convictions form, proof of your right to work in the UK and the fee, which is set nationally at £37. The council checks for relevant offences, and if you have an unspent conviction for one it must notify the police, who have 14 days to object. Straightforward applications are usually decided within a few weeks. Once issued, the licence is valid indefinitely; the ten-year renewal was abolished in 2015, though you must tell the council if you change address and must keep the licence document.

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Losing a Personal Licence

A court that convicts a personal licence holder of a relevant offence, which includes most alcohol, drugs, violence, dishonesty and driving offences, can suspend the licence for up to six months or forfeit it. Since 2017 licensing authorities can also suspend or revoke a licence they issued when they learn of a relevant conviction. Immigration offences count too. The holder must tell the court they hold a licence when charged, and tell the council of any conviction. For a business, a DPS losing their licence means the premises cannot sell alcohol until a new DPS is named, which is why having a second holder on the team matters.

What to do next

Put at least two managers through the APLH

One holder is a single point of failure for alcohol sales. Two or three means holidays and departures do not close the bar.

Record licence details and DBS dates centrally

Keep each holder's licence number, issuing council and qualification certificate on file so the DPS variation can be done the day it is needed.

Common mistakes to avoid

Mistake

Applying to the council where the pub is rather than where the applicant lives

Instead

Personal licences are issued by the licensing authority for the applicant's home address. The council will reject an application sent to the wrong authority.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a personal licence cost?

The application fee is £37, set nationally. The APLH course and exam typically cost £120 to £200, and a basic DBS check costs £21.50, so budget around £200 in total.

Does a personal licence expire?

No. Since April 2015 personal licences in England and Wales are valid indefinitely. In Scotland the licence lasts ten years and refresher training is required every five.

Can I get a personal licence with a criminal record?

It depends on the offence. Unspent convictions for relevant offences are referred to the police, who can object; the council then decides at a hearing. Spent convictions and non-relevant offences do not prevent a grant.