Personal licenses

This licence authorises the specified person to supply alcohol or allow the supply of alcohol in accordance with a premises licence. Not everyone who makes a sale of alcohol has to have a personal licence but all sales must be authorised by a personal licence holder.

About this service

You must normally apply for a personal licence to the council in whose district you live. Personal licenses are valid for ten years and are portable between premises.

You may have as many personal licence holders as you wish on one premises but only one Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS). This is the personal licence holder nominated on the premises licence as being in overall charge of the premises.

This person does not have to be on the premises at all times, but they must take responsibility for what happens there. The DPS should ensure that any staff they appoint are appropriately trained in the requirements of the Licensing Act and in particular any conditions attached to the premises licence.

A person cannot be nominated as a DPS unless the holder of a personal licence.

Applicants for a personal licence must be over 18 years of age.

What you must do

Before a personal licence may be issued the applicant must:

1. complete an application form
2. provide two photographs, which must be:
   • taken against a light background
   • 45 millimetres by 35 millimetres
   • full face uncovered and without sunglasses
   • on photographic paper
   • endorsed with a statement verifying the likeness of the applicant by a solicitor, notary, a person of standing in the community or an individual with a professional qualification  
3. provide proof of a relevant qualification, BIIAB Level2 National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders or GOAL Level2 National Certificate for Personal Licence holders.