Eligibility criteria
Applicants for personal licences must be over 18 years old and will need to obtain an accredited qualification first or be a ‘person of prescribed description’.
The aim of the qualification is to ensure that licence holders are aware of licensing law and the wider social responsibilities attached to the sale of alcohol. Personal licence qualification providers are accredited by the Secretary of State.
You will find help and advice on qualifications in the Personal Licence Guidance Notes (see below).
Persons of prescribed description are currently the Master Vintners, persons licensed by the Board of Green Cloth and persons licensed by the University of Cambridge. If you are a person of a prescribed description, you must include evidence of this with your application.
Regulation summary
The powers to regulate and issue licences is contained in the Licensing Act 2003 (external link to the National Archives website). GOV.UK has more information on personal licences.