How do I get a Personal Licence to sell alcohol?

How do I attain a Personal Licence to sell alcohol in the UK? A Personal Licence is granted to an individual by his/her local licensing authority. The person is then licensed to sell or supply alcohol from a licensed premise, which is licensed via a premises licence.

Within the UK, there are a number of steps to follow in order to attain a personal licence to sell alcohol:

1: Complete a training programme and achieve a licensing qualification (APLH or SCPLH)

2: Apply for a CRB check.

3: Submit a personal licence application, CRB Basic Disclosure form, APLH certificate and fee to your local licensing authority.

4: Your personal licence application will then be either granted or refused by your local licensing authority. Once granted, a personal licence is valid for ten years.

UK Licensing Qualifications:

There are currently two relevant licensing qualifications within the UK:

• Award for Personal Licence Holders (APLH) Level 2 (England & Wales)
• Scottish Certificate for Personal Licence Holders (SCPLH) Level 5 (Scotland)

The Award for Personal Licence Holders (APLH), formerly known as the National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders (NCPLH), is a mandatory qualification in England and Wales for personal licence holders. Under the Licensing Act 2003, an individual wishing to apply for a personal licence to sell alcohol in the UK must first complete this award. You can find your local training venue for APLH training courses using this training link.

The Scottish Certificate for Personal Licence Holders (SCPLH) is the Scottish equivalent of the APLH, and is a mandatory qualification in Scotland for personal licence holders and applicants. You can find your local training venue for SCPLH training courses using this training link.

Licensing Authorities:

Your local licensing authority, usually your local council, is responsible for receiving your personal licence application, and for either granting or refusing the application. You can find your local licensing authority using this Directgov link.

Why do I need a Personal Licence?

Under the Licensing Act 2003, every sale or supply of alcohol taking place within a licensed premises must be made or supervised by a personal licence holder (Licensing Act 2003, 19.3). Additionally, the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) named on the premises licence must be a personal licence holder. You can find out more about how to become a DPS using this article link.