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Personal licence (alcohol)

Obtain a personal licence to authorise and supervise alcohol sales in England and Wales. Covers the accredited qualification, DBS checks, application process, and your ongoing responsibilities as a personal licence holder.

UK-wide
Guide summary

Get a personal licence to sell alcohol or supervise sales in England and Wales. You must pass a one-day course (£150-£250), get a DBS check (£18), and apply to your local council (£37). The licence lasts forever but you must report any changes to your details or convictions.

  • Pass the BIIAB Level 2 Award course (£150-£250)
  • Get a basic DBS check (£18)
  • Apply to your local council with photos (£37)
  • Police have 14 days to object to your application
  • Licence lasts forever (no renewal needed)
  • Report changes of name or address within 14 days
  • Report any convictions to your council and court
  • Holders can give 50 Temporary Event Notices per year
  • Must be 18+ with right to work in UK
  • No licence needed for staff selling alcohol
On this page
UK-wide

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A personal licence authorises you to sell or supply alcohol, or to authorise others to do so. You need one if you intend to be the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) on a premises licence, and it allows you to give up to 50 Temporary Event Notices per year.

Personal licences are issued by your local council and, since April 2015, are valid indefinitely with no renewal requirement. However, you must keep the issuing authority informed of any changes to your name, address, or criminal record.

Who needs a personal licence

You need a personal licence if you will:

  • Act as the DPS on any premises licence that authorises alcohol sales
  • Authorise staff to sell alcohol on your behalf
  • Give more than 5 Temporary Event Notices per year (personal licence holders can give up to 50)

You do not need a personal licence simply to sell alcohol as a member of staff. Staff can sell alcohol under the authority of the DPS without holding their own personal licence.

Eligibility requirements

To be granted a personal licence, you must:

  • Be aged 18 or over
  • Hold an accredited licensing qualification (see below)
  • Not have any relevant or foreign offences that are unspent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
  • Not have had a personal licence forfeited in the last 5 years
  • Have the right to work in the UK

The accredited qualification

You must pass the BIIAB Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders (APLH) or an equivalent accredited qualification. This is typically a one-day course covering:

  • The Licensing Act 2003 and the four licensing objectives
  • Roles and responsibilities of personal licence holders and DPS
  • Relevant criminal offences (underage sales, drunk persons, irresponsible promotions)
  • Conditions and operating schedules

The course costs approximately £150 to £250 depending on the training provider. It includes a multiple-choice examination which you must pass to receive your certificate.

  1. 1

    1. Complete an accredited licensing qualification

    Book and pass the BIIAB Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders (APLH) or equivalent. Courses are available in person and online from accredited training providers. You will receive a certificate on passing the examination. Course cost: typically £150 to £250.

  2. 2

    2. Obtain a basic criminal record check

    Apply for a basic DBS check (England and Wales) or Disclosure Scotland certificate. This shows unspent convictions only. You can apply online through the DBS website. Cost: £21.50 (basic DBS). The check must be dated within one calendar month of your application.

  3. 3

    3. Obtain two passport-sized photographs

    You will need two photographs endorsed on the back by someone who has known you for at least two years, confirming the photograph is a true likeness.

  4. 4

    4. Complete the application form

    Fill out the personal licence application form from your local licensing authority. You must also complete a declaration and disclosure of convictions form, declaring any relevant or foreign offences.

  5. 5

    5. Submit to your local licensing authority with the fee

    Submit your application with your APLH certificate (or certified copy), DBS check, photographs, and the £37 application fee. Apply to the council for the area where you live, not where you work.

  6. 6

    6. Wait for police consultation

    The licensing authority sends your application to the police, who have 14 days to object. The police will only object if you have unspent relevant offences and they believe issuing the licence would undermine the crime prevention objective. If the police do not object, the authority must grant the licence.

  7. 7

    7. Attend a hearing if the police object

    If the police object, the licensing authority will hold a hearing. The sub-committee will consider whether to grant the licence despite the objection, or refuse it. If refused, you have 21 days to appeal to the magistrates' court.

Your responsibilities as a personal licence holder

Once you hold a personal licence, you must:

  • Notify the issuing authority of any change of name or address as soon as reasonably practicable
  • Notify the issuing authority if you are convicted of a relevant offence or a foreign offence (you must also notify the court that convicted you that you hold a personal licence)
  • Produce your licence on request by a police officer or authorised person
  • Keep your licence safe; a replacement costs £10.50

Relevant offences that affect your licence

Relevant offences include those involving dishonesty, violence, firearms, drugs, and offences under the Licensing Act 2003 or the Immigration Act 2016. If you are convicted of a relevant offence, the court can order your licence to be forfeited (permanently taken away) or suspended (for up to 6 months).

Application fee
£37
Qualification cost
£150-£250 (one-day APLH course)
Basic DBS check
£21.50
Licence validity
Indefinite (no renewal since April 2015)
Replacement licence
£10.50
TENs allowance
Up to 50 per calendar year (vs 5 for non-holders)
Notification deadline
As soon as reasonably practicable for change of name or address; convictions must also be notified
Legal basis
Licensing Act 2003, Part 6 (ss.111-135)
Penalty risk
Penalty:
Failure to notify the licensing authority of a change of name or address as soon as reasonably practicable is a criminal offence. Failure to notify a conviction for a relevant offence also carries a fine. Making a false statement in connection with a personal licence application carries an unlimited fine.

Official guidance and resources