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If your business plans to sell liquor on its premises, you will almost certainly need to apply for a licence. The type of licence you apply for will depend on the type of business you are running and the frequency with which you plan to sell alcohol. This article will outline some of the rules and regulations around liquor licensing and offer some guidance on applying for your liquor licence.
What Type of Businesses Need a Liquor Licence?
A business that wants to sell or supply liquor will need a licence from the relevant licensing authority. This will apply to all types of business, including:
- bars;
- pubs;
- restaurants;
- cinemas;
- cafes; and
- takeaway stores.
If you make an application for a liquor licence, then the licensing authority will be required to grant you your application. This is a simple process, provided you comply with all relevant requirements. However, there are different types of licences you may need, depending on the business you are running.
Premises Licence
A premises licence is appropriate for any business that intends to sell alcohol on a permanent basis as part of their business. A premises licence will authorise the use of your premises to sell alcohol. A ‘premise’ can be a business property such as a shop, but it can also be a truck, boat, or any structured part of a building. For example, you will want to get a premises licence if you are selling alcohol in:
- an off-licence grocery store;
- a bar; or
- a restaurant.
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Personal Licence
A personal licence will allow you to sell liquor as part of your business. However, you must also hold a premises licence for your business. This is similar to needing a driving licence to drive a car.
If you are running a business where you sell liquor on the premises, then you will need to have at least one person who holds a personal licence. This means that not all of your employees will need a personal licence for you to be able to sell alcohol. However, your employees will need to be authorised to sell alcohol by your personal licence holder.
Only people aged 18 or over will be able to apply for a personal licence. When applying for a personal licence, you will also need to obtain an ‘accredited qualification’. An accredited qualification has the purpose of making you aware of licensing laws and wider social responsibilities in selling alcohol.
Further, the personal licence holder will have greater responsibilities, for example, obligations to act:
- in a professional way when dealing with liquor; and
- as the designated supervisor for the business selling alcohol.
Designated Premises Supervisors
The designated premises supervisor is responsible for making sure that alcohol is sold in a safe and socially responsible way. This person will be your contact with the police if anything goes wrong in your business. Further, the designated supervisor will also need to be someone who is contactable at all times and involved in the business.
Club Premises Certificate
Certain types of registered clubs can operate with a ‘club premises’ certificate rather than a premises licence. For example, a sports club or a Royal British Legion can get a club premises licence.
This type of certificate means that you do not have to have a designated premises supervisor. To be a club that can get a club premises certificate, you must satisfy certain conditions. For example, the:
- club must have at least 25 members;
- membership process must take at least two days;
- alcohol must only be supplied on the premises by the club;
- alcohol must be purchased by members who are at least 18 years old; and
- alcohol must be purchased legally.
Temporary Events
Suppose you are organising a temporary or a special event or having regulated entertainment where you will be serving alcohol. In that case, you will want to complete a ‘temporary event notice’ to your local authority. Regulated entertainment might be:
- a boxing event;
- live music; or
- a performance or play.
Licensing Fees
You may also have to pay an application fee to the relevant licensing authority. The fee that you have to pay will depend on the ‘band’ of your premises. You can check your premises’ band on the Valuation Office Agency website.
Key Takeaways
If you are planning on selling alcohol on your premises, you will want to make sure that you have the relevant licence or certificate to sell alcohol legally. The licence type will depend on your business.
A licensed premise will usually also need a designated supervisor, who will be responsible for the sale of alcohol. If you want to sell alcohol as part of your club, you may be able to get a club premises certificate, which means that you do not need a designated supervisor. As part of the application process, you may have to pay an application fee to the licensing authorities. You should check the rules on the government website for your specific type of business for more information.
For legal advice regarding liquor licences, LegalVision’s regulatory and compliance lawyers can assist as part of our LegalVision membership. For a low monthly fee, you will have unlimited access to lawyers to answer your questions and draft and review your documents. Call us today on 0808 196 8584 or visit our membership page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Suppose a person makes a representation about you or your business. In that case, the licensing authority will decide whether that representation is relevant in considering whether to grant you a licence or not. The licensing authority may hold a hearing to decide this point.
Sometimes, a licensing authority can use an early morning alcohol restriction order to stop the sale of alcohol at a time period between 12 am and 6 pm. You should communicate with your licensing authority to check if this applies to you.
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