Food, Drink & Hospitality Food, hospitality and tourism

Responsible alcohol retailing

Checklist of mandatory conditions and best practices for responsible alcohol retailing — Challenge 25, refusal logs, staff training, irresponsible promotions ban, and more.

UK-wide
Guide summary

Follow these rules when selling alcohol to stay legal. You must ask for ID from customers who look under 25, provide free water, and avoid promotions that encourage risky drinking. Keep records of staff training and refusals to prove compliance.

  • Operate Challenge 25 policy for age checks
  • Keep a log of alcohol sales refusals
  • Train all staff on alcohol sales rules
  • Provide free tap water when asked
  • Offer small measures (half pints, 125ml wine)
  • Ban irresponsible promotions like drinking games
  • Have a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) on your licence
  • Display your licence summary where customers can see it
  • Pay your annual licence fee on time
  • Face unlimited fines for selling to under-18s
On this page
UK-wide

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All premises licences authorising the sale of alcohol carry mandatory conditions set by law. You must comply with these conditions — breach is a criminal offence. In addition to mandatory conditions, following best practice helps protect your licence from review.

Use this checklist to verify your premises meets all requirements.

Age verification compliance

Compliance checklist

  1. 1

    Verify Challenge 25 signage is displayed

    Check that Challenge 25 posters are visible at all points of sale, entrances, and behind the bar. Replace damaged or faded signage.

  2. 2

    Review refusal log entries

    Check your refusal log is up to date. Every refusal should be recorded with date, time, a description of the customer, and the staff member who refused. Regularly review to ensure staff are using it.

  3. 3

    Confirm all staff have received training

    Check that every staff member involved in alcohol sales has received training on age verification, mandatory conditions, and the four licensing objectives. Keep signed training records.

  4. 4

    Check free water is available

    Ensure free potable water is available to customers on request. This is a mandatory condition — failing to provide it is a breach of your licence.

  5. 5

    Verify small measures are available

    You must make available beer and cider in half pints, gin, rum, vodka and whisky in 25ml or 35ml measures, and still wine in a 125ml glass. Check your price list includes these options.

  6. 6

    Review promotions for compliance

    Check that no current promotions encourage irresponsible drinking. Avoid unlimited drinks deals, speed drinking, or promotions based on alcohol strength.

  7. 7

    Ensure licence summary is displayed

    The summary part of your premises licence must be on display where it can be read by customers. The full licence must be available for inspection by police or licensing officers.

  8. 8

    Confirm annual fee is paid

    Check your annual fee is paid and up to date. Non-payment triggers automatic licence suspension — operating while suspended is a criminal offence.

Best practice recommendations

  • CCTV: Install and maintain CCTV covering all points of sale, entrances, and exits. Retain recordings for at least 31 days.
  • Incident log: Maintain a log of all incidents (violence, theft, ejections, complaints). Review weekly.
  • Door supervisors: Consider SIA-licensed door staff for late-night or high-risk premises.
  • Drinks-aware messaging: Display Drinkaware information and provide information on units and health risks.
  • Regular self-audits: Conduct quarterly self-audits of compliance with all licence conditions.