Guide
Get a personal licence to sell alcohol in Scotland
A personal licence authorises you to supervise or authorise the sale of alcohol in Scotland. You need one if you will be a premises manager (the person responsible for day-to-day running of licensed premises) or if you want to authorise alcohol sales on any licensed premises.
Scotland operates its own licensing system under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, which is entirely separate from the Licensing Act 2003 used in England and Wales. The qualification, application process, fees, and renewal rules are all different. You cannot use an English personal licence to manage premises in Scotland, and a Scottish personal licence does not authorise you to act as a Designated Premises Supervisor in England or Wales.
When you need a personal licence
- You are, or will be, the premises manager named on a premises licence
- You supervise or authorise the sale of alcohol on licensed premises
- You are applying for an occasional licence to sell alcohol at a temporary event (personal licence holders can apply directly)
Every premises licence in Scotland that authorises the sale of alcohol must name a premises manager who holds a valid personal licence. If you are opening a pub, restaurant, hotel, off-licence, or any other premises selling alcohol, you will need at least one personal licence holder involved in the business.
Step-by-step: how to get your personal licence
The application process involves completing an accredited qualification, obtaining a criminal record check, and applying to your local Licensing Board. Allow 4 to 8 weeks from starting your qualification to receiving your licence.
- Qualification
- Scottish Certificate for Personal Licence Holders (SCPLH) at SCQF Level 6
- Qualification cost
- £85-£150 plus VAT (varies by training provider)
- Accrediting body
- SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority)
- Basic Disclosure fee
- £25 (Disclosure Scotland)
- Application fee
- £50 (set by Licensing (Fees) (Scotland) Regulations 2007)
- Renewal fee
- £50
- Licence validity
- 10 years from date of issue
- Refresher training
- Mandatory every 5 years (SCPLHR qualification)
- Refresher cost
- £60-£90 plus VAT (varies by provider)
- Minimum age
- 18 years
- Renewal deadline
- Apply no later than 3 months before expiry
Penalties for alcohol offences in Scotland
Key differences from England and Wales
Scotland's personal licensing system is fundamentally different from the regime in England and Wales. If you are moving your business across the border, or operating in both jurisdictions, you need separate qualifications and licences for each.
| Feature | Scotland | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Legislation | Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 | Licensing Act 2003 |
| Qualification | SCPLH (SCQF Level 6) | APLH / BIIAB Level 2 Award |
| Licence validity | 10 years (must renew) | Indefinite (no expiry since April 2015) |
| Refresher training | Mandatory every 5 years | Not required |
| Apply to | Licensing Board where you live | Licensing authority where you live |
| Application fee | £50 | £37 |
| Criminal record check | Basic Disclosure (Disclosure Scotland) | Basic DBS check |
| Premises role | Premises manager | Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) |
| Licensing objectives | 5 (includes public health) | 4 |
| Qualification interchangeable? | No — SCPLH and APLH are not interchangeable | |
Ongoing obligations as a personal licence holder
Holding a personal licence in Scotland comes with continuing duties beyond simply renewing it every 10 years:
- Notify changes promptly: Tell your Licensing Board within 1 month if you change your name or address (section 88 of the Act). You must send your licence to the Board for updating.
- Declare convictions: If you are convicted of a relevant offence or foreign offence, you must notify both the Licensing Board and any premises where you are named as premises manager.
- Complete refresher training: Sit the SCPLHR qualification within each 5-year window and send the certificate to your Licensing Board.
- Produce your licence on request: You may be asked to produce your personal licence by a Licensing Standards Officer or police officer.
- Act responsibly: Your conduct must be consistent with the five licensing objectives. The Licensing Board can review and revoke your licence if your behaviour is inconsistent with these objectives.
What happens if you lose your licence
If your personal licence is revoked, surrendered, or expires without renewal, and you later wish to apply again, you may need to wait up to 5 years before a new application will be considered (depending on the circumstances of revocation). If your licence simply expires because you did not renew in time, you must complete the full SCPLH qualification again before reapplying.