🍷 Personal and Premises Licences in Wolverhampton
Selling Alcohol in Wolverhampton – A Complete Guide
Whether you're planning to run a bar, an off-licence, or sell alcohol online from a warehouse or your home, you’ll need to ensure you have two legal documents in place before you start trading in Wolverhampton: a Personal Licence and a Premises Licence.
The Personal Licence allows you (or your appointed supervisor) to authorise alcohol sales and is issued by the council where you live.
The Premises Licence applies to the specific location in Wolverhampton where alcohol will be stored, sold, or dispatched — and must be issued by Wolverhampton City Council.
These licences are mandatory for any type of alcohol business: from high-street premises to ecommerce stores delivering orders across the UK. Each licensed premises must have at least one Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) who holds a valid Personal Licence.
It’s also a legal requirement that every retail sale of alcohol is made or authorised by a Personal Licence holder. That’s why the first step toward running an alcohol-related business is usually to complete the APLH course — the Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders.
Applying for a Personal Licence in Wolverhampton
To apply for your Personal Licence, you’ll need:
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Personal Licence application form
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Two passport-sized photos (one countersigned)
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A DBS certificate (less than 30 days old)
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Proof of right to live and work in the UK
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APLH certificate
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£37 application fee
Submit your application to the licensing team of your home authority.
Premises Licence in Wolverhampton
To sell alcohol from a property in Wolverhampton, apply to Wolverhampton City Council. You’ll need to:
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Complete the Premises Licence application form
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Provide a detailed, to-scale floor plan
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Nominate a DPS with a Personal Licence
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Post a public notice at the site for 28 consecutive days
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Advertise your application in a local newspaper
If there are no valid objections, your licence will normally be granted.
Selling Alcohol Online from Wolverhampton
If you're planning to sell alcohol online, you’ll still need to licence the location where the product is physically stored and dispatched.
Under the Licensing Act 2003, a sale is considered to take place at the point where alcohol is picked and packed — not when the payment is made online.
This means:
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🏠 If you dispatch from home — your home must be licensed
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🏢 Using a warehouse? That location needs a Premises Licence
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☎️ Call centres or websites do not require licensing — unless alcohol is handled there
🛒 Selling on Amazon, eBay, or similar?
Even if these platforms fulfil your orders, they may still require you to hold your own Personal and Premises Licences under their seller terms.
Failure to licence your dispatch address can result in fines, prosecution, or refusal of future licence applications.
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Online course, self-paced
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Remote exam from home
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Instant results
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Free re-sits included
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Certificate issued quickly after passing
Course Fee: £75 + VAT
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