Personal Licence Course Liverpool

🍷 Personal and Premises Licences in Liverpool

Selling Alcohol in Liverpool: What You Need to Know

If you're looking to sell alcohol in Liverpool — whether it’s from a traditional pub, a trendy wine bar, an off licence, or even as an online delivery service — there are two critical licences you’ll need in place before you begin trading.

The first is a Premises Licence, which is tied to the physical location where alcohol is either sold or dispatched. The second is a Personal Licence, which allows an individual (typically the business owner or manager) to authorise those sales legally.

Here’s how it works:

  • Your Personal Licence is issued by the local authority where you live, not where you work.

  • The Premises Licence must be issued by Liverpool City Council if the alcohol is being sold or dispatched from an address within the city.

This applies to all types of alcohol businesses in Liverpool — including pubs, restaurants, corner shops, off-licences, delivery services, and online sellers operating from warehouses or home addresses. Each premises must have at least one Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) who holds a valid Personal Licence.

By law, every single alcohol sale must either be made by a Personal Licence holder, or under their authorisation.
That means even if your staff are serving customers, someone qualified must be responsible for ensuring the law is followed.

To obtain a Personal Licence, you must first complete the Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders (APLH) — a nationally recognised course covering your legal responsibilities.


Personal Licence Application in Liverpool

If you live in Liverpool and want to become a Personal Licence holder, you’ll need to submit:

  • A completed Personal Licence application form

  • Two passport-style photographs (one endorsed as a true likeness)

  • A Basic Disclosure (DBS) certificate issued within the last 30 days

  • Proof of your right to live and work in the UK

  • Your APLH certificate

  • The £37 application fee

You’ll send your application to the licensing team at the council that covers your residential address — not necessarily where your business is located.


Premises Licence in Liverpool

To sell alcohol from a venue in Liverpool, you must apply for a Premises Licence through Liverpool City Council.

The process includes:

  • Filling out a detailed Premises Licence application

  • Submitting a floor plan of the premises (to scale)

  • Appointing a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) with a valid Personal Licence

  • Posting a public notice at the premises for 28 consecutive days

  • Advertising the application in a local newspaper

The cost of a Premises Licence depends on the rateable value of the property. If there are no valid objections during the consultation period, the licence is typically granted. Objections may result in a hearing.


Selling Alcohol Online from Liverpool

Thinking of selling alcohol online or offering local delivery in Liverpool?
You still need to be licensed — and it’s the dispatch location that matters most.

Under the Licensing Act 2003, the legal "sale" of alcohol in distance selling occurs where the alcohol is physically appropriated to the contract — in simple terms, where it is picked, packed, and made ready for delivery.

✅ This means you must hold a Premises Licence for:

  • A shop or warehouse dispatching online orders

  • A home address if you’re storing and sending alcohol from there

❌ You do not need a Premises Licence for:

  • A website, call centre, or office if no alcohol is handled on-site

🛒 If you’re using Amazon, eBay, or similar marketplaces, keep in mind:
Even if they fulfil your orders, you may still be required to hold both a Personal Licence and a Premises Licence under their seller terms.

Operating without a valid licence for your dispatch point is a criminal offence and can result in fines, prosecution, or loss of your ability to trade.


🎓 APLH Training with Inn Confidence

Before applying for your Personal Licence, you’ll need to complete the APLH qualification.

Inn Confidence makes this process easy with:

  • Flexible online learning at your own pace

  • Remote exam from home

  • Instant results

  • Free re-sits included if needed

  • Fast-track certification after passing

Course Fee: £75 + VAT
👉 Book Your Personal Licence Exam Online with Inn Confidence