Have you ever thought of owning your own bar? Or hotel, even? Or maybe a pop-up bar? If you’ve ever considered opening a venue and want to offer a great selection of booze, then you’re going to need a licence.
Starting a business can be tricky, of course, and it’s no different with alcohol licensing. To help you navigate through the topic, Flogas, a UK business gas supplier, has complied the following guide.
Taking a look at the overall rules
It doesn’t matter where you are situated, if you want to sell or supply alcohol in England and Wales, then you are going to need a licence to do so. This is authorised by the licensing authority in the area, which is usually your local council. This legislation is overseen by the Home Office, and is defined is as follows:
- Businesses that sell or supply alcohol on a permanent basis, such as pubs, need to apply for a premises licence.
- Those who plan to authorise the sale of alcohol must apply for a personal licence, alongside the premises licence, if they are also the owner of the business in that premises.
The process isn’t too in-depth, but you will need to fill out an application form and then submit a fee to the local council. As well as the local authority, you will also have to send your application to the police and other responsible authorities; these responsible authorities can include:
- The primary care trust (PCT) or local health board (LHB)
- Local trading standards
- Planning authority
- Environmental health authority
- Local fire and rescue
- Any other licensing authority in whose area part of the premises is located.
And what about your premises?
If successful, the licence you get will cover alcohol sales within any premises. Premises are defined as a vehicle, vessel, or moveable structure. To successfully apply for this licence, you will be asked a series of questions including the following:
- Overall information concerning the premises, like the address.
- Your details as an applicant.
- The operating schedule, including the date you want the licence to begin.
- Licensable activities you plan to undertake. You should also indicate what days and times you want the licence to be active from. This also includes the provision of regulated entertainment, such as indoor sporting events, live music and recorded music.
- Under the new licensing laws, you should also stipulate who you wish to be the designated premises supervisor (DPS).
- Your business’ opening hours.
- How you intend to encourage the four key licensing objectives, which are: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the protection of children from harm, the prevention of public nuisance.
- The planning of the premises and any marketing on or around the premises that you wish to use.
Things to consider for the business owner
If you’re operating in a pub environment, then your general staff do not need a personal licence. However, your pub does need to have a personal licence-holding premises supervisor.
If you’re planning to be the owners of the premises licence, then you also need to be the personal licence holder if the business is yours too. Furthermore, anyone who works in a pub should be authorised to do so by the personal licence holder.
Before applying for this licence, be aware that it is designed to make sure that anyone managing or running the pub is doing so professionally.
Now you know what you need, it’s time for you to get the ball rolling and apply for your alcohol licence! Then you can have a celebratory drink!
