Licensing Act 2003
What this means for your business
- Enforced by
- Local Authority
- Applies to
- United Kingdom
- On this page
- 61 compliance obligations, 40 practical guides across 2 topics
What you must do
61 compliance obligations under this legislation — 5 can result in imprisonment.
Appointments 1
Apply to change premises supervisor on your licence
If you want a different person to be the ‘premises supervisor’ on your alcohol or entertainment licence, you must submit an application to the local licensing authority. They will normally approve the change, but if you give a notice under section 37(5) they may hold a hearing and can refuse the request if it helps prevent crime.
Management duties 9
Ensure premises licence and summary contain required details
When you hold a premises licence, the licence and its one‑page summary must follow the standard format set by the Regulations. This means they must show who holds the licence, a plan of the premises, any time limits, the activities allowed, the name of the premises supervisor (if alcohol is supplied) and any conditions attached.
Include any mandatory conditions on your club licence
If your club holds a licence that lets you sell alcohol to members or guests, you must make sure the licence lists any mandatory conditions that the Secretary of State has ordered under section 73B. In practice this means checking the licence and getting it amended if any required conditions are missing.
Maintain the minimum number of members to keep your club licence
If your club holds a club premises certificate you must keep at least 25 members (the statutory minimum). If the licensing authority believes you have fallen below this number they will issue a notice to withdraw the certificate for the relevant activity. You have three months to get the membership back up to 25, otherwise the certificate will be withdrawn.
Manage alcohol purchasing committee and prohibit commissions
Unlimited fineIf you run a club that wants to supply alcohol to members or guests, you must have a committee of club members (all aged 18 or over and elected by the membership) that controls all alcohol buying and supply. You also must make sure no one gets a commission, percentage or any other personal financial benefit from those purchases or from supplying the alcohol, except the benefit that goes to the club as a whole.
Obtain licence holder consent for immediate licence transfer
If you want a premises licence to pass to you straight away, you must first get the current licence holder’s written consent. If you cannot obtain consent, you must show you have taken reasonable steps to get it and that you would be able to run the licensed activity, then ask the licensing authority to waive the consent requirement.
Only serve alcohol when a licensed supervisor and staff are present
You must have a designated premises supervisor on site whenever alcohol is sold, and that supervisor must hold a current personal licence that is not suspended. In addition, every person who serves or authorises the supply of alcohol must also hold a personal licence. If either the supervisor is absent or anyone serving alcohol lacks a licence, you must not sell alcohol.
Restrict admission of children to films on club premises
If your club holds a licence that allows you to show films, you must make sure the licence contains a condition that limits children (anyone under 18) from attending a film unless the film’s classification body (or the licensing authority where no body is named) says it is allowed. You must enforce those age limits every time a film is shown.
Restrict children’s admission to film screenings
If your premises licence lets you show films, you must make sure that anyone under 18 can only attend films that are classified as suitable for them. Follow the recommendations of the official film‑classification body, or the licensing authority if they have given you specific directions. This restriction has to be written into your licence and applied every time you exhibit a film.
Supply alcohol off‑premises only under certificate conditions
Unlimited fineIf your club holds a club premises certificate that allows off‑premises alcohol sales, you must only sell alcohol to members under the specific conditions set out in the certificate. The sale must happen while the club is open for on‑premises sales, the alcohol must be sealed, and it must be handed to the member in person. Failing to follow any of these steps breaches the licence and can lead to prosecution.
Notifications 1
Notify the licence holder when you apply to review the licence
If you or anyone else wants to challenge a premises licence, you must send a notice to the licence holder and any responsible authorities. The notice has to be sent within the period set out in the regulations, so you can’t make a review application without giving this notice.
Other requirements 3
Apply for a replacement premises licence if lost or damaged
If your premises licence or its summary is lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed, you must ask the licensing authority for a certified copy. You will have to pay any fee the authority sets, and the copy they give you is treated just like the original licence.
Comply with advertising requirements for provisional statement
If you are applying for a provisional statement, you must first meet any advertising or other conditions set out in section 30 of the Licensing Act. The licensing authority will only consider your application once those requirements have been satisfied.
Do not share info obtained from a licensing authority
If your business receives any data or information from a licensing authority or its responsible authority (for example during a licence application or renewal) you must keep that data confidential. You may only disclose it back to that authority for its authorised purposes – you can’t pass it on to other people or companies.
Offences and prohibitions 45
Allow a child to sell or supply alcohol unsupervised
Fine up to £200If you are the licence holder, designated premises supervisor or any adult authorised to act for them, and you let someone under 18 sell alcohol or supply alcohol on behalf of a club on your premises without your explicit approval, you commit an offence. On conviction you face a fine of up to £200 (level 1 on the standard scale). No prison term is attached to this offence.
Allow disorderly conduct on licensed premises
Fine up to £1,000If you run a licensed premises – such as a pub, bar, club or a temporary event – and you knowingly let disorderly behaviour happen when you could have stopped it, you commit an offence. This applies to the licence holder, the designated premises supervisor, any club officer present, the temporary‑event user, or any staff member who is authorised to prevent the conduct. On conviction you face a fine of up to £1,000.
Allow sale of alcohol to under‑18s
Unlimited fineIf anyone who works at a licensed premises (or a club officer present) has the power to stop alcohol being sold and deliberately allows an under‑18 person to be sold alcohol, the business commits an offence. The same applies if a club supplies alcohol to a member or to anyone under 18. On conviction the offender faces an unlimited fine.
Allow unaccompanied child on alcohol premises
Fine up to £1,000If you run, manage or work at premises that sell or supply alcohol, you must not let anyone under 16 who is not with an adult be on the premises while it is open for alcohol sales, especially between midnight and 5 am. Allowing an unaccompanied child onto the premises in those circumstances is an offence. On conviction you face a fine of up to £1,000 on summary conviction.
Allow under‑18s to consume alcohol on licensed premises
Unlimited fineIf a person under 18 drinks alcohol on your premises you are breaking the law. If, as a licence‑holder, staff member or club officer, you knowingly let an under‑18 drink, you commit an offence. Conviction leads to a fine – up to £1,000 for the under‑18’s own consumption and an unlimited fine if you allowed it – and the case is dealt with in the magistrates’ court.
Be liable for a corporate licensing offence if you consent, connive or neglect
Unlimited fineIf your company commits a licensing offence and it can be shown that a director, manager, partner or other officer gave consent, turned a blind eye, or was negligent, that individual can also be prosecuted as if they had committed the offence themselves. They face the same penalties as the company under the Licensing Act.
Buy or supply alcohol to persons under 18
Unlimited fineIf you (or anyone acting for your business) purchase alcohol for someone under 18, arrange for it to be supplied, or buy it yourself as a club member for a child, you are committing a criminal offence. The same applies if you cause alcohol to be supplied on licensed premises for a child. On conviction you face a fine – up to £1,000 for buying yourself, or an unlimited fine for buying/supplying on behalf of a child – and the case will be dealt with in the Magistrates' Court.
Carry out licensable activity without authorisation
6 months imprisonmentIf you run, or try to run, a licensable activity (such as selling alcohol or providing regulated entertainment) on premises without a valid premises licence, club premises certificate or temporary event notice, you commit an offence. The same applies if you knowingly allow someone else to do so. On conviction you can be fined without limit and/or be sentenced to up to six months in prison.
Deliver alcohol to under‑18s
Unlimited fineIf anyone who works on your licensed premises (paid or unpaid) knowingly delivers alcohol to a person under 18, or allows someone else to do so, you are committing a criminal offence. On summary conviction you face an unlimited fine. No prison term is stipulated.
Expose alcohol for unauthorised sale
6 months imprisonmentIf you display alcohol for sale on premises where the sale would be an unauthorised licensable activity (i.e., you do not have the proper licence), you commit a criminal offence. On conviction in the magistrates' court you can be sentenced to up to six months’ imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both, and the court may order the alcohol and its containers to be confiscated and destroyed.
Fail to comply with direction to provide premises licence
Fine up to £1,000If you are the holder of a premises licence (or the designated premises supervisor) and you receive a formal direction to send the licence (or the relevant part) to the licensing authority within 14 days, you must comply. Failing to do so without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence. On summary conviction you can be fined up to £1,000, but there is no prison term.
Fail to keep or display temporary event notice
Fine up to £500If you use premises for a temporary licensable activity and you do not display the required temporary event notice (or the accompanying statement of conditions), or you do not keep it where it can be produced when asked by a constable or authorised officer, you commit an offence. On conviction you face a summary‑court fine of up to £500.
Fail to keep or produce club premises certificate
Fine up to £500If you are the club secretary and you do not ensure the club premises certificate (or a certified copy and any mandatory conditions) is kept at the premises, or if you are the nominated person and you do not display the certificate summary and your role notice, or if you refuse to hand the certificate over when a constable or authorised officer asks for it, you commit an offence. Conviction brings a fine of up to £500 and the case is dealt with in the magistrates’ court.
Fail to keep or produce premises licence
Fine up to £500If you hold a premises licence and do not keep a copy of the licence (or the required statements and conditions) at the premises, do not display the licence summary as required, or refuse to show the licence when a constable or authorised person asks, you commit a criminal offence. On conviction you face a maximum fine of £500, dealt with in the magistrates' court.
Fail to leave licensed premises when asked
Fine up to £200If a person who is drunk or disorderly does not leave a licensed premises when a police officer or an authorised person (e.g., licence holder, designated premises supervisor, club officer or event organiser) asks them to, they commit a criminal offence. On conviction in the magistrates' court the offender faces a fine of up to £200. No jail term is provided for this offence.
Fail to notify change of club name or rules
Fine up to £500If your club changes its name or amends its constitution, the club secretary must tell the local licensing authority within 28 days. Not doing so is a criminal offence. On summary conviction the club can be fined up to £500.
Fail to notify change of club's registered address
Fine up to £500If your club can no longer use its registered address and you do not inform the licensing authority as soon as reasonably practicable, the club secretary commits an offence. Conviction results in a fine of up to £500 on summary conviction. No prison term is provided for this breach.
Fail to notify change of name or address on personal licence
Fine up to £500If you hold a personal licence (for example, an alcohol personal licence) you must inform the licensing authority as soon as reasonably practicable when your name or address changes, and send the licence or explain why you cannot. Failing to do so without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence. On conviction in the Magistrates' Court you can be fined up to £500.
Fail to notify court of personal licence
Fine up to £500If you hold a personal licence (e.g., an alcohol licence) and are charged with a relevant offence, you must produce the licence or tell the court about it at your first appearance and again at your next appearance, and you must also inform the court of any notifiable events (such as surrender or revocation). Failing to do so without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence. On a summary conviction you face a fine of up to £500.
Fail to notify designated premises supervisor of licence decision
Fine up to £1,000If your business holds a premises licence and you are told the licence decision (granted or refused), you must promptly inform the designated premises supervisor of the outcome. Failing to do so without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence. On summary conviction you could be fined up to £1,000.
Fail to notify designated premises supervisor of licence transfer
Fine up to £1,000If you apply to transfer a premises licence and you are not the same person as the designated premises supervisor, you must promptly tell that supervisor about the application and, if the transfer is approved, about the transfer itself. Failing to do so without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence. On conviction you face a fine of up to £1,000, dealt with in the Magistrates’ Court.
Fail to notify licence authority of name or address change
Fine up to £500If you hold a premises licence (or you are the designated premises supervisor) you must tell the local licensing authority as soon as reasonably practicable when your name or address (or the supervisor’s name or address) changes. Failing to do so without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence. On conviction you face a fine of up to £500, dealt with in the magistrates’ court.
Fail to notify licensing authority of convictions or immigration penalties
Fine up to £2,500If you are applying for a personal licence and you are convicted of a relevant offence, a foreign offence, or are required to pay an immigration penalty while your application is pending, you must tell the licensing authority as soon as reasonably practicable. Failing to do so is an offence. On conviction you face a fine of up to £2,500, dealt with in the magistrates' court.
Fail to notify licensing authority of convictions or penalties
Fine up to £500If you hold a personal licence (for example a premises or club licence) and you are convicted of a relevant offence, a foreign offence, or are required to pay an immigration penalty, you must tell the licensing authority about the conviction or penalty as soon as reasonably practicable and send them your licence. Failing to do so without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence. On conviction you face a fine up to level 2 on the standard scale (maximum £500) and no jail term.
Fail to notify supervisor of interim authority notice
Fine up to £1,000If you become the holder of a premises licence (for example after the previous holder dies) you must immediately tell the designated premises supervisor about the interim authority notice, unless you are that supervisor yourself. Failing to do so without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence. On conviction in the Magistrates' Court you face a fine of up to £1,000.
Fail to produce club premises certificate on demand
Fine up to £500If a licensing authority asks a club’s secretary to provide the club premises certificate within 14 days and the secretary does not do so (without a reasonable excuse), the club commits a criminal offence. On conviction in the magistrates’ court the business faces a fine of up to £500.
Fail to produce licence when requested
Fine up to £500If a licensing authority asks you to show your personal licence and you do not provide it within 14 days, you commit an offence. The failure must be without a reasonable excuse. On conviction you face a fine of up to £500, dealt with in the magistrates' court.
Fail to produce personal licence when requested
Fine up to £500If you hold a personal licence for supplying alcohol and you are on the premises when a police constable or an authorised licensing officer asks you to show that licence, you must produce it unless you have a reasonable excuse. Refusing to do so is a criminal offence. On conviction you can be fined up to £500, dealt with in the magistrates' court.
Fail to provide premises licence on request
Fine up to £500If a licensing authority asks you to show the premises licence (or the relevant part of it) and you do not supply it within 14 days – and you have no reasonable excuse – you have committed an offence. On conviction you will be fined up to £500 and the case will be dealt with in the Magistrates’ Court.
Keep alcohol on premises for unauthorised sale
Fine up to £500If you have alcohol on your premises and intend to sell it but you do not hold a licence that authorises that activity, you commit an offence under the Licensing Act 2003. On conviction in the Magistrates' Court you can be fined up to £500 and the court may order the alcohol and its containers to be forfeited and destroyed.
Keep premises open after a disorder closure order
Fine up to £1,000If a magistrates’ court orders a premises to be closed because of disorder, the manager, licence holder, designated premises supervisor or the person using the premises must keep it shut. Keeping the premises open knowingly during the order is an offence. On conviction in the magistrates’ court you face a fine of up to £1,000.
Keep smuggled goods on licensed premises
Fine up to £1,000If you (for example, a licence holder, designated supervisor, club officer, event organiser or staff who can stop goods being kept) knowingly keep or allow smuggled goods – goods imported without duty – to be stored on your premises, you commit a criminal offence. On conviction you face a fine of up to £1,000 and the court can order the goods (and any containers) to be destroyed or otherwise dealt with.
Make false statement on licensing application
Unlimited fineIf you knowingly or recklessly give a false statement when applying for a premises licence, club premises certificate, provisional statement, temporary event notice, personal licence or any other licensing notice, you commit an offence. On conviction in the magistrates’ court you face an unlimited fine. The offence applies to anyone who submits the false information, not just licence holders.
Obstruct a licensing inspection of club premises
Fine up to £500If a club (or any person) prevents an authorised inspector or police officer from entering and inspecting the premises when a club premises certificate is being applied for, a criminal offence is committed. On conviction in the Magistrates' Court you face a fine of up to £500. There is no custodial sentence for this offence.
Obstruct a licensing or immigration officer
Fine up to £1,000If you deliberately block or interfere with a police constable, authorised licensing officer or immigration officer who is entering your premises to check a licensable activity, you commit a criminal offence. On conviction in the magistrates' court you face a fine of up to £1,000. No imprisonment is provided for this offence.
Obstruct an authorised officer during a temporary event notice inspection
Fine up to £500If you deliberately block or interfere with a police constable or licensing authority officer who is trying to enter premises to check a temporary event notice, you commit a criminal offence. On conviction you will be tried in the magistrates' court and face a fine of up to £500. No prison term is provided for this offence.
Obstruct inspection of premises before licence grant
Fine up to £500Before a licence is granted, a police constable or authorised licensing officer may enter your premises at a reasonable time to assess its impact on the licensing objectives. If you deliberately block or interfere with that inspection, you commit a criminal offence. On conviction in the Magistrates' Court you face a fine of up to £500; no imprisonment is provided for this offence.
Obtain alcohol for a drunk person on licensed premises
Fine up to £1,000If you knowingly get or try to get alcohol for someone who is already drunk on your licensed premises, you are committing a criminal offence. A conviction brings a summary‑only penalty – a fine of up to £1,000, heard in the Magistrates' Court. No prison term is attached to this offence.
Open premises contrary to a closure order
3 months imprisonmentIf you allow a premises that is subject to a closure order to remain open, without a reasonable excuse, you commit a criminal offence. This applies when a licensing authority has made a decision under section 167 (e.g., to revoke the licence) and the premises are still closed by order. On conviction you face up to three months’ imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both.
Sell alcohol from a moving vehicle
3 months imprisonmentIf you sell alcohol from a vehicle that is not parked – even temporarily – you are committing a criminal offence. A conviction in the magistrates' court can result in up to three months' imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both.
Sell alcohol to a drunk person
Fine up to £1,000If you or anyone with authority to sell alcohol on your premises (staff, licence holder, designated supervisor, club officer or event organiser) knowingly sells, attempts to sell or allows the sale of alcohol to someone who is already drunk, you commit a criminal offence. On conviction you will be fined up to £1,000 on summary conviction (Magistrates' Court). No prison term is attached to this offence.
Sell alcohol to under‑18s
Unlimited fineIf you sell or supply alcohol to anyone under 18 – whether directly, on behalf of a club, or to a club member who then gives it to a child – you commit a criminal offence. The offence is tried in the Magistrates' Court and, on conviction, you face an unlimited fine.
Sell or allow alcohol in breach of a train prohibition order
3 months imprisonmentIf a magistrates' court orders that alcohol must not be sold on a particular train, station or route, and you knowingly sell alcohol or let others sell it anyway, you are committing an offence. On conviction in the magistrates' court you can be sentenced to up to three months in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.
Send a child to obtain alcohol
Unlimited fineIf you knowingly send anyone under 18 to get alcohol from your licensed premises or club, you commit a criminal offence. The only exceptions are when the child works delivering alcohol or when a police constable or weights‑and‑measures inspector does it as part of their duties. A conviction results in an unlimited fine imposed by the magistrates’ court.
Supply or sell alcohol to a convicted habitual drunkard
Fine up to £500If a court has declared a person a habitual drunkard and ordered a notice to be sent to the police, you must not sell, supply, or allow the sale of alcohol to that person for three years. The same person must also not buy or attempt to buy alcohol during that period. Breaching this rule is an offence.
Registration and licensing 1
Ensure club premises certificate meets prescribed form
If you run a club you need a club premises licence. The licence certificate and its summary must follow the form set out in the law and must show the club name and registered address, the premises address, a plan of the premises, the activities that are allowed, and any conditions attached. Failure to provide this means your licence can be refused or revoked.
Reporting and filing 1
Respond to review applications for your club premises certificate
If you run a club that holds a club premises certificate and you receive a formal notice that someone has applied to review that certificate, you must read the notice and, if you wish, submit any comments or objections within the time‑frame set out in the notice. Failure to do so means your views may not be considered.
Penalties for non-compliance
47 penalties under this legislation. 5 can result in imprisonment. 15 carry an unlimited fine.
Carry out licensable activity without authorisation
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Expose alcohol for unauthorised sale
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Open premises contrary to a closure order
Unlimited fine and/or 3 months imprisonment
Sell alcohol from a moving vehicle
Unlimited fine and/or 3 months imprisonment
Sell or allow alcohol in breach of a train prohibition order
Unlimited fine and/or 3 months imprisonment
Manage alcohol purchasing committee and prohibit commissions
Unlimited fine
Supply alcohol off‑premises only under certificate conditions
Unlimited fine
Allow sale of alcohol to under‑18s
Unlimited fine
Allow under‑18s to consume alcohol on licensed premises
Unlimited fine
Be liable for a corporate licensing offence if you consent, connive or neglect
Unlimited fine
Buy or supply alcohol to persons under 18
Unlimited fine
Deliver alcohol to under‑18s
Unlimited fine
Make false statement on licensing application
Unlimited fine
Sell alcohol to under‑18s
Unlimited fine
Send a child to obtain alcohol
Unlimited fine
Fail to notify licensing authority of convictions or immigration penalties
Fine up to £2,500
Allow disorderly conduct on licensed premises
Fine up to £1,000
Allow unaccompanied child on alcohol premises
Fine up to £1,000
Fail to comply with direction to provide premises licence
Fine up to £1,000
Fail to notify designated premises supervisor of licence decision
Fine up to £1,000
Fail to notify designated premises supervisor of licence transfer
Fine up to £1,000
Fail to notify supervisor of interim authority notice
Fine up to £1,000
Keep premises open after a disorder closure order
Fine up to £1,000
Keep smuggled goods on licensed premises
Fine up to £1,000
Obstruct a licensing or immigration officer
Fine up to £1,000
Obtain alcohol for a drunk person on licensed premises
Fine up to £1,000
Sell alcohol to a drunk person
Fine up to £1,000
Fail to keep or display temporary event notice
Fine up to £500
Fail to keep or produce club premises certificate
Fine up to £500
Fail to keep or produce premises licence
Fine up to £500
Fail to notify change of club name or rules
Fine up to £500
Fail to notify change of club's registered address
Fine up to £500
Fail to notify change of name or address on personal licence
Fine up to £500
Fail to notify court of personal licence
Fine up to £500
Fail to notify licence authority of name or address change
Fine up to £500
Fail to notify licensing authority of convictions or penalties
Fine up to £500
Fail to produce club premises certificate on demand
Fine up to £500
Fail to produce licence when requested
Fine up to £500
Fail to produce personal licence when requested
Fine up to £500
Fail to provide premises licence on request
Fine up to £500
Keep alcohol on premises for unauthorised sale
Fine up to £500
Obstruct a licensing inspection of club premises
Fine up to £500
Obstruct an authorised officer during a temporary event notice inspection
Fine up to £500
Obstruct inspection of premises before licence grant
Fine up to £500
Supply or sell alcohol to a convicted habitual drunkard
Fine up to £500
Allow a child to sell or supply alcohol unsupervised
Fine up to £200
Fail to leave licensed premises when asked
Fine up to £200
Practical guidance
Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.
Sector-Specific 32
Host weddings and events on your farm
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Late Night Levy for licensed premises
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Brewery licensing and compliance
Complete licensing, registration, and duty requirements for operating a brewery in the UK, including APPA registration, food safety, …
Food and drink business licensing and compliance
Navigate the complete range of licences, registrations, certifications, and consents required for food and drink businesses across production, …
Food and drink regulations and traceability
Comply with HFSS labelling, traceability requirements, alcohol duty obligations, packaging regulations, waste disposal, and animal by-products rules.
Gambling licensing requirements for UK businesses
How to obtain gambling licences from the Gambling Commission, including operating, personal and premises licences. Covers responsible gambling …
Broadcast licensing and Ofcom regulation
How to obtain broadcast licences from Ofcom for television and radio services in the UK. Includes licence types, …
Retail sector market overview
UK retail market statistics, ecommerce growth trends, and investment opportunities for retailers operating in Great Britain.
Selling knives and bladed articles
A practical compliance guide for retailers selling knives, blades, and sharp-pointed articles. Covers age verification requirements, prohibited weapons, …
Obtain music licences for your business premises
How to obtain and maintain the correct music licences when playing recorded or live music in your business …
Apply for entertainment and alcohol premises licence
Complete guide to applying for a premises licence for entertainment, alcohol sales, or late-night refreshment in England and …
Age-Restricted Products
Understand legal requirements for selling age-restricted products including alcohol, tobacco, and knives.
Hospitality sector market overview
Market size, growth trends, investment opportunities, and key statistics for the UK hospitality sector including employment, business counts, …
Alcohol licensing requirements
How to obtain a premises licence to sell alcohol in England and Wales, including application process, fees, designated …
Music and entertainment licensing
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Specialist hospitality licences and permissions
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Premises licence (alcohol)
Apply for a premises licence to sell or supply alcohol from your business in England and Wales. Covers …
Personal licence (alcohol)
Obtain a personal licence to authorise and supervise alcohol sales in England and Wales. Covers the accredited qualification, …
Temporary Event Notice (TEN)
Give a Temporary Event Notice to your local authority to carry out licensable activities at a temporary event. …
Late night refreshment licence
Understand when you need authorisation to supply hot food or drink between 11pm and 5am. Covers what counts …
Premises licence: how to apply
How to apply for a premises licence to sell alcohol, provide late night refreshment, or offer regulated entertainment …
Apply for a club premises certificate
How qualifying clubs (social clubs, sports clubs, working men's clubs) can apply for a certificate to supply alcohol …
Licence reviews and enforcement action
How premises licence reviews work, who can trigger them, what happens at a hearing, possible outcomes including suspension …
Responsible alcohol retailing
Checklist of mandatory conditions and best practices for responsible alcohol retailing — Challenge 25, refusal logs, staff training, …
Alcohol licensing in Scotland
How alcohol licensing works in Scotland under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 — five licensing objectives, Licensing Boards, …
Appoint and manage a Designated Premises Supervisor
Every premises licence authorising alcohol sales must name a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS). Learn about the DPS role, …
Register as an alcohol wholesaler (AWRS)
If you sell alcohol to other businesses, you must register under the Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme (AWRS) with …
Vary your premises licence
How to apply for full and minor variations to your existing premises licence — change hours, layout, activities, …
Transfer a premises licence to a new owner
How to transfer a premises licence when buying or taking over licensed premises in England and Wales. Covers …
Managing noise from hospitality premises
How to prevent and manage noise complaints from hospitality premises including statutory nuisance law, planning conditions, licensing conditions, …
Hospitality annual compliance checklist
Annual compliance checklist for hospitality businesses covering all key regulatory obligations: licence renewals, fire safety reviews, food safety …
Minimum unit pricing compliance for alcohol retailers
Compliance & Legal 8
Business licenses: what you need
Find out what licenses and permits your business needs to operate legally.
Find licences you need for your business
How to identify and apply for the licences, permits, and registrations your business needs using GOV.UK Licence Finder. …
Get licences from your local council
Comprehensive guide to local authority licensing requirements including premises licences for alcohol and entertainment, food business registration, street …
Business licences by activity type
A quick-reference lookup of UK business licences organised by activity type, covering food, alcohol, entertainment, waste, street trading, …
Local authority approvals for new businesses
How to navigate local council departments when setting up business premises. Covers planning permission, building control, environmental health, …
Penalties for trading without required approvals
Quick-reference table of penalties for operating a business without required licences, registrations, or insurance, covering criminal offences, fines, …
Approvals and registrations you need before trading
Understanding the approvals, registrations, and licences your business needs before you can legally start trading. Covers universal registrations, …
Pre-trading timeline: when to apply for what
A month-by-month countdown from three months before your trading day, showing when to apply for each registration, licence, …
Sections and provisions
251 classified provisions from this legislation.
Duties 26
- s.4 General duties of licensing authorities
- s.19 Mandatory conditions where licence authorises supply of alcohol
- s.20 Mandatory condition: exhibition of films film
- s.24 Form of licence and summary
- s.25 Theft, loss, etc. of premises licence or summary
- s.31 Determination of application for provisional statement it
- s.39 Determination of section 37 application
- s.41C Supplementary provision about determinations under section 41B
- s.43 Circumstances in which transfer application given interim effect it
- s.45 Notification of determination under section 44
- s.51 Application for review of premises licence other person may apply
- s.64 The additional conditions for the supply of alcohol person
- s.73 Certificate authorising supply of alcohol for consumption off the premises
- s.73A Mandatory conditions relating to the supply of alcohol to members or guests
- s.74 Mandatory condition: exhibition of films film
- s.78 Form of certificate and summary
- s.86C Supplementary provision about determinations under section 86B
- s.87 Application for review of club premises certificate other person may apply
- s.90 Club ceasing to be a qualifying club documents relating
- s.104A Counter notice following objection to late notice
- ... and 6 more duties
Offences and penalties 49
- Schedule 4 Personal licence: relevant offences
- Schedule 6 Minor and consequential amendments
- s.33 Notification of change of name or address
- s.40 Duty of applicant following determination under section 39
- s.41 Request to be removed as designated premises supervisor
- s.46 Duty to notify designated premises supervisor of transfer
- s.49 Supplementary provision about interim authority notices
- s.56 Licensing authority’s duty to update licence document
- s.57 Duty to keep and produce licence etc.
- s.59 Inspection of premises before grant of licence etc.
- s.82 Notification of change of name or alteration of rules of club
- s.83 Change of relevant registered address of club
- s.93 Licensing authority’s duty to update club premises certificate
- s.94 Duty to keep and produce certificate etc.
- s.96 Inspection of premises before grant of certificate etc.
- s.108 Right of entry where temporary event notice given
- s.109 Duty to keep and produce temporary event notice and statement of conditions
- s.123 Duty to notify licensing authority of convictions etc during application period
- s.127 Duty to notify change of name or address
- s.128 Duty to notify court of personal licence
- ... and 29 more offences and penalties
Powers 39
- s.8 Requirement to keep a register
- s.9 Proceedings of licensing committee
- s.10 Sub-delegation of functions by licensing committee etc.
- s.16 Applicant for premises licence
- s.17 Application for premises licence
- s.19A Power of Secretary of State to impose section 19(4) mandatory conditions
- s.41A Application for minor variation of premises licence
- s.53A Summary reviews on application of senior police officer
- s.53D Interim steps pending section 53C decision coming into effect
- s.53 Supplementary provision about review
- s.54 Form etc. of applications and notices under Part 3
- s.55 Fees
- s.71 Application for club premises certificate
- s.73B Power of Secretary of State to impose section 73A mandatory conditions
- s.79 Theft, loss, etc. of certificate or summary
- s.84 Application to vary club premises certificate
- s.86A Application for minor variation of club premises certificate
- s.89 Supplementary provision about review
- s.91 Form etc. of applications and notices under Part 4
- s.92 Fees
- ... and 19 more powers
Definitions 57
- s.1 Licensable activities and qualifying club activities
- Schedule 2 Provision of late night refreshment registered charity
- s.2 Authorisation for licensable activities and qualifying club activities authorisation
- s.3 Licensing authorities licensing authority
- s.5A Cumulative impact assessments relevant authorisations relevant period
- Schedule 8 Transitional provision etc. existing licence first appointed day second appointed day
- s.11 Premises licence premises licence
- s.12 The relevant licensing authority
- s.13 Authorised persons ... and responsible authorities Authorised person Responsible authority statutory function
- s.14 Meaning of “supply of alcohol” supply of alcohol
- s.15 Meaning of “designated premises supervisor”
- s.18 Determination of application for premises licence relevant representations
- s.21 Mandatory condition: door supervision security activity
- s.23 Grant or rejection of application relevant representations
- s.27 Death, incapacity, insolvency etc. of licence holder
- s.29 Application for a provisional statement where premises being built, etc. provisional statement
- s.36 Supplementary provision about determinations under section 35 relevant representations
- s.41B Determination of application under section 41A
- s.58 Provision supplementary to section 57 notary
- s.60 Club premises certificate club premises certificate
- ... and 37 more definitions
Exemptions 23
- s.5 Statement of licensing policy
- s.6 Licensing committees
- s.7 Exercise and delegation of functions
- s.34 Application to vary premises licence
- s.37 Application to vary licence to specify individual as premises supervisor
- s.42 Application for transfer of premises licence
- s.44 Determination of transfer application
- s.48 Cancellation of interim authority notice following ... objections
- s.55A Suspension of premises licence for failing to pay annual fee
- s.92A Suspension of club premises certificate for failing to pay annual fee
- s.102 Acknowledgement of notice
- s.104 Objection to notice by a relevant person
- s.105 Counter notice following ... objection to standard temporary event notice
- s.106 Modification of standard temporary event notice following ... objection
- s.132A Convictions etc of licence-holder: powers of licensing authority
- s.139 Defence of due diligence
- s.169A Closure notices for persistently selling alcohol to children
- s.170 Exemption of police from liability for damages
- s.172 Relaxation of opening hours for special occasions
- s.172E Exceptions from effect of early morning alcohol restriction order
- ... and 3 more exemptions