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21 November 2008

Information on Personal Licences

A personal licence is a licence held by a particular individual to permit that person to authorise the sale of alcohol from a premises that is suitably licensed for the purposes of selling alcohol by retail.

If you wish to apply for a personal licence, the form is available from this Authority and on this website.

You will normally be expected to make your application to the authority in the area, which you normally reside.

For an application to be deemed complete and valid, the following information must accompany the application forms.

  • The application form.
  • A recognised qualification certificate
  • The fee of £37.
  • A criminal conviction certificate or criminal record certificate or the results of a subject access search of the Police Intelligence Service. Contact Disclosure Scotland on 0870 609 6006 or visit www.disclosurescotland.co.uk for more information.
  • A completed Disclosure of Convictions and Declaration Form
  • Two photographs.

The photographs of the applicant shall be:

a) Taken against a light background so that the applicant's features are distinguishable and contrast against the background;

b) 45 millimetres by 35 millimetres;

c) Full face uncovered and without sunglasses and, unless the applicant wears a head covering due to his/ her religious beliefs, without a head covering;

d) On photographic paper and;

e) Endorsed by:

(i) The chief executive of the licensing justices for the relevant licensing authority
(ii) A Solicitor or notary
(iii) A person of standing in the community; or
(iv) An individual with a professional qualification

Providing that you have not had any relevant convictions and you meet the above criteria, the grant and issue of your personal licence shall be a formality. Information as to what is regarded as relevant conviction is available from the DCMS website. www.culture.gov.uk Opens in a new window

Lists of suitable training courses to obtain a recognised qualification are available from the DCMS website. www.culture.gov.uk Opens in a new window

Persons in the following categories are exempt from the requirement to provide a qualification certificate:

a) A member of the company of the Master, Wardens, Freeman and Commonality of the Ministry of the Vintners of the City of London;

b) A person operating under a licence granted by the University of Cambridge; or

c) A person operating premises under a licence granted by the Board of Green Cloth,

If you have no convictions, a suitable qualification and are over 18, there is no reason why you should not qualify for a personal licence.

A personal licence lasts for ten years. Subsequent renewals will have to be made to the original authority.

When you change you name or address, you must write to the original licence issuing authority with one photo and a fee of £10.50, and an updated licence will be issued.

A personal licence holder may give consent to become a designated premises supervisor (DPS) for a licensed premises where that activity of supply of alcohol is authorised. The DPS has a legal responsibility for authorising the sale of alcohol and control of the day-to-day management of that premises under the terms of the licence. Make sure that if the designated premises supervisor is not physically on the premises, there is a clear management structure with which staff are familiar.

Personal licences are not required in qualifying club situations, and for premises licences that do not retail alcohol.

Last updated on 12/07/2007

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