🍷 Personal and Premises Licences in Taunton
Licensing Alcohol Sales in Taunton – What You Need to Trade Legally
Thinking about selling alcohol in Taunton? Whether you're running a local pub, convenience store, mobile bar service, or even dispatching online orders from your home, you’ll need to secure two important licences before you can legally sell alcohol.
The first is a Personal Licence, which authorises an individual to oversee and approve alcohol sales. This licence is issued by the local council covering your home address, not where your business is based.
The second is a Premises Licence, required for the specific physical location where alcohol is stored, sold, or dispatched. If that location is in Taunton, you’ll need to apply through Somerset Council.
Every premises selling alcohol must designate a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) — and that person must hold a valid Personal Licence. Even if alcohol sales are minimal, a Personal Licence holder is legally required to supervise or authorise each transaction.
Before applying, you must pass the nationally recognised Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders (APLH).
Applying for a Personal Licence in Taunton
To apply, you’ll need to submit the following to your home licensing authority:
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Completed application form
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Two passport-sized photos (one certified)
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Basic DBS certificate (less than 30 days old)
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Proof of right to work in the UK
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APLH course certificate
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£37 fee
Premises Licence in Taunton
If you’re opening or managing a venue in Taunton that will sell or dispatch alcohol, you must apply for a Premises Licence through the local authority.
You’ll need:
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Completed Premises Licence application form
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Scaled floor plan of the premises
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Appointment of a DPS with a Personal Licence
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Public notice displayed on the property for 28 days
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Newspaper advertisement of the application
Selling Alcohol Online in Taunton
If your alcohol sales are made online, you're still legally required to licence the dispatch location.
According to the Licensing Act 2003, the “sale” occurs where the alcohol is physically selected and packed — not when the customer checks out online.
✅ You need a Premises Licence if you’re dispatching from:
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Your home
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A retail store
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A storage facility or warehouse
❌ You don’t need a licence for:
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Websites or ecommerce platforms
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Admin-only call centres
🛒 Selling via Amazon or eBay?
These platforms often require you to hold your own Personal and Premises Licences, regardless of their own fulfilment licensing.
🎓 APLH Training with Inn Confidence
Inn Confidence offers online APLH training with:
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Self-paced modules
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Home-based exam
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Instant results
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Free re-sits included
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Fast certificate turnaround
Course Fee: £75 + VAT
👉 Book Your Personal Licence Exam Online with Inn Confidence