Guide
Alcohol licensing in Scotland
How alcohol licensing works in Scotland under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 — five licensing objectives, Licensing Boards, premises and personal licences, occasional licences, overprovision, and minimum unit pricing.
If you run a business in Scotland that sells or supplies alcohol, you are governed by the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 — a completely separate system from the Licensing Act 2003 that applies in England and Wales.
This guide explains how the Scottish licensing system works, the key differences from England and Wales, and what you need to do to comply.
Premises licence in Scotland
To sell alcohol from your premises in Scotland, you must apply for a premises licence from your local Licensing Board. Each of Scotland's 32 council areas has its own Licensing Board.
The application process includes:
- Completing the application form with an operating plan
- Providing a layout plan of the premises
- Naming a premises manager who holds a Scottish personal licence
- Paying the application fee (set locally by each Board)
- A consultation period during which objections can be raised
The Licensing Board will assess your application against the five licensing objectives and their local licensing policy statement.
Personal licence in Scotland
The Scottish personal licence is different from the English/Welsh version:
- Qualification: Scottish Certificate for Personal Licence Holders (SCPLH) — different from the English BIIAB qualification
- Validity: 10 years (not indefinite as in England)
- Refresher training: Mandatory every 5 years — failure to complete refresher training revokes the licence
- Issuing authority: Apply to the Licensing Board in the area where you live
Occasional licences
Scotland uses occasional licences instead of Temporary Event Notices. Key differences:
- Fee is £10 per event
- No statutory annual limit per person (unlike the 5/50 TEN limit in England)
- Can only be applied for by a premises licence holder or personal licence holder
- Licensed for up to 14 days per event
- Police can object on any of the five licensing objectives
Licensing Standards Officers
Each Scottish council employs Licensing Standards Officers (LSOs) who provide guidance and monitor compliance. LSOs can:
- Provide advice and information to licence holders
- Mediate between licence holders and complainants
- Report compliance issues to the Licensing Board
- Submit review applications to the Board
LSOs are a valuable source of guidance — contact your local LSO if you have questions about compliance.
Off-sales hours
Scotland has mandatory restrictions on off-sales (alcohol sold for consumption off the premises):
- Maximum permitted hours: 10am to 10pm
- Individual Licensing Boards can set more restrictive hours
- Multi-buy discounts and quantity-based promotions for off-sales are banned