Alcohol licencing explained

Organisations and people need to ensure they are correctly licensed to serve and sell alcohol

Maintaining the correct licensing is important for any organisation involved in the sale of alcohol. At first glance there is a lot of detail as you may need to ensure you have licences for your premises and staff.

Online training can make this much more straightforward. Thousands of people have used The Digital College to get the official qualification they need to work in hospitality, retail and other industries.

Licensing basics

Local councils are responsible for issuing alcohol licences for people and premises.

In summary there are three types of licence:

• any business or other organisation that sells or supplies alcohol on a permanent basis needs to apply for a premises licence
• anyone who plans to sell or supply alcohol or authorise the sale or supply of alcohol must apply for a personal licence
• qualifying members’ clubs (such as the Royal British Legion, working men’s clubs and rugby clubs) need to apply for a club premises certificate if they plan to sell or supply alcohol

In Scotland anyone serving (not selling) alcohol also needs to receive the necessary training

We have dedicated resources for each of the following

• How to apply for a Personal Licence
• How to become a Designated Premises Supervisor
• How to obtain a Premises Licence

Learning the easy way - at your pace

You can study our online courses whenever you want and at your own pace. The courses are available on mobile, tablets or laptops so you can even carry on learning at work or on the move. And don't worry - we provide plenty of support to help you achieve the pass you need.

We've partnered with one of the UK's largest qualification bodies, Highfield Qualifications, to ensure that your exam happen as smoothly as possible. You can take your exams on a laptop with a webcam - even at home!. (We also have physical test centres if that is your pref erence).

Businesses - use our tools to manage your learning

Many businesses are concerned that training is expensive and takes people out of work. Online training, delivered via a computer or mobile phone, reduces the expense while avoiding the need to send staff offsite for days of training. Instead a simple online learning module can be delivered at the end of the day or during breaks.

The Digital College offers business customers a self-service portal where they can register staff, track their progress and view their enrolment information.

Whether you need food safety or licencing courses - we have the e-learning ready for you.

Getting the APLH Personal Licence

As you are probably aware, all alcohol sales need to be authorised by a Personal Licence Holder. To become a Personal Licence Holder you will need to pass a Personal Licence qualification and then apply to your local council

Our trusted APLH course is a quick and easy way to learn

• 3 hours of recorded content provided by a tutor
• Progress tests and activities
• Mock exam with large database of realistic questions
• Official Highfield Qualification, recognised by local councils

More information about applying to become a Personal Licence Holder

Working in catering?

The Digital College has a selection of other qualifications that may be beneficial if you work in catering. These are official qualifications, offering a guarantee of course suitability to employers.

Level 2 Award: Food safety and Hygiene

A Level 2 qualification awarded by Highfield Qualifications

A level 2 qualification is required for anyone working with food on a regular basis, including cafes and restaurants. View Course

Level 3 Award: Food safety and Hygiene

A Level 3 qualification awarded by Highfield Qualifications

If you are supervising others in food preparation then you are required to have a Level 3 qualification in food safety. This qualification explains your role and responsibilities when managing teams of people working with food. View Course