The Need and Procedure to Obtain a Premise License

Under the Licensing Act 2003 a single system of premises licences was introduced combining the six licensing commandments including the sale and supply of alcohol, the terms of legalized entertainment, the terms of late night refreshment. This act removed the non-essential red tape from the regulations that were followed before the act.

Why Premises License??

Businesses are now required to apply for a premises licence to be able to permit all the licensable activities they wish to perform in their premise. Premises licences are neither subjected to time period except for when it is requested, nor it requires renewal after every three years which was required according to the earlier rules and regulations nor they have a extent of one year which was there earlier in case for public entertainment licences.

The fee charges for a Premises Licence Application are same which used to be for application before the introduction of the Licensing Act and limitations on the number licensable activities on the premises has also been relieved. Inquiries on an application only happens where the demonstration from concerned group or responsible authorities is desired and hence eliminating pointless administrative and legal expenses.

The Application Procedure…

In order to practice any of the 4 licensable activities in a place, one must apply for premises licence to any of the licensing authority. To carry out retail sale of alcohol, a dedicated premises supervisor or DPS should be present in the premise that holds a personal licence.

The licensing directive has four major licensing objectives which are as follows:

• To prevent crime and disorder
• To ensure Public safety
• To prevent public annoyance
• To protect the children from harm

One has to perform a risk estimation to classify if one’s proposed use of the premises may challenge one or more of the licensing objectives. One must consider the actions required minimizing the recognized risks, and thus suitable conditions should be accepted. For instance, if the premises will be offering adult entertainment services, the owner may need to fulfill a condition that no children will be allowed on the premises where the adult entertainment is going to take place. And also if the premise is going to provide entertainment, the owner will have to reflect on how to minimize possible noise trouble. The projected measure should be documented in the appropriate section of the application form.

The Premises Licence Application form should also mention the type of premises that is intended, for example a hotel, a cafe, a community center, a pub, a night club, a supermarket, a convenience store, and should specify all activities that are to be performed at the premises as well. The form should indicate the non domestic rate able value of the activities, as this will be used to evaluate the fee payable for the application and also as the annual fee. It should also specify the opening hours, and any seasonal variations in the timings of the premises, each and every detail need to be set out.

Once a premise has obtained a premises licence it can be varied at any time by the similar process.

How to apply for a personal alcohol license

For pursuing a career in catering and hospitality, it is important to have a personal license for the supply of alcohol. It will help in attaining a lot of knowledge about how processes take place in alcohol supplying and what can be done in times of crisis. It is a very simple process to get a personal alcohol license. A person willing to get one has to go through one-day training before he appears for the test. You have to approach the nearest institute that provides his training and take admission in the course of your choice as there are a number of courses available. The syllabus prepared for this training is understandable and if you want to do it on your own, you can choose to take the training offline.

After the training is complete, the person is required to sit in a qualifying examination that will contain 40 questions. Out of the 40 questions, the person is required to give correct answers for 28 of them. If he succeeds, he will pass the examination and will be issued a certificate for the training. Now to make a premises licence application, one has to contact a licensing authority. He must be over the age of 18 years, should hold a licensing certificate, must not be involved in a foreign offence and must not have lost such a license in the past 5 years. Anyone fulfilling these conditions will be eligible to apply for a personal license.

The applicant must have gone through an APLH course and possess a certificate stating the same. There are many institutes that provide the training for these courses both online and offline that can be contacted from any part of the world. The next step is to get a criminal record check done from the local court. If the person has a clean background history, he will be issued a document stating that he is eligible for the license. If there is any offence found in the criminal record of the person, then the nature of the offence is checked to be strong enough to jeopardize the application.

After all these checks are done and a certificate achieved, the applicant has to reach the licensing authority to ask for the application form. The application form is required to be filled by the candidate very cautiously because any small mistake can ruin his efforts and he may have to apply for it again. The person should place his latest photograph in the region mentioned for it. This photo must be clear enough as it is going to be placed on the identity card that will be issued to the license holder. After completing all these formalities, the person has to submit the application form along with the training certificate and the document from court proving his eligibility for attaining the license.

If the premises licence application is found to be complete, the person will be issued a license that will consist of two parts - one certificate and the other a credit card sized identity proof which is to be always kept with him.

Requirement of licenses and permissions when opening a food outlet

The catering and hospitality industry is an ever blooming business. Many such businesses have seen to grow from a small eatery shop to a five star resort. If you are also thinking of opening a food outlet, there are a number of things to be dealt with initially. The first thing that you have to do is to get registered with the environmental health service department of your local authority. The registration is free of cost and you have to register at least 28 days before opening the food outlet. Some people are running a catering business from their home while others are using a restaurant franchise or a temporarily hired premise. Some businesses are also being operated by using mobile catering vans or market stalls.

Whatever kind of a business may it be, it has to be registered with the environmental health service department. In case when the premise is hired and being used by more than one catering businesses, such as conference centers or community halls, it becomes the responsibility of the owner of the building to get each one of them registered. Looking at the necessity of the processes like registration and acquiring various licenses like alcohol premises licence, there has been made a provision for getting these done online with many local authorities.

However, if this provision is not available in your local authority, you can get it done by post, fax or email. You can download the application form anytime through internet. Another thing that you need to get yourself registered for is being self- employed. You will also have to think about getting registered for value added tax and you will probably have to pay business rates. This is the case when you are using the premises as assigned to you. But if you want to make changes to it, you will also require the permission of the local authority. There are some legal requirements to be met when you change the design and construction of your assigned premises. There should be proper arrangements regarding the health and safety of people like fire regulations.

All the food and drinks that you are going to sell must describe their contents precisely and rightfully. Before starting to sell alcohol in your food outlet, you have to obtain an alcohol premises licence from the licensing authority. Such a license will make you legally authorized to sell alcohol in your premises and areas where the license is applicable. There is a particular time interval during which one can operate his food outlet. If you want to extend this time interval, you will require an additional permission.

Not only the owner but the whole staff of the food outlet must be well aware of the principles of good food hygiene. It is your social responsibility to check the quality of food being served to prevent the chances of food poisoning. As an owner, you must also keep the record of the pay of your employees and ensure that the correct tax is being paid. Waste management and recycling measures are also required to be taken to ensure strict adherence to the rules of your council.

Did you know that you need a Licence to Sell Alcohol?

For most of the businesses all that is required to get started is get your company registered; and you can set off. But there is one business that requires a bit more than this. We are talking about selling alcohol. This is a business that requires a lot of risk. One must have sufficient knowledge about it so that he can handle it easily. Having complete awareness about the business and its whereabouts is always helpful in tackling with issues in the long term.

To start up with an alcohol business, you must possess a licence to sell alcohol. This licence can save you from any trouble that may come with your business. Before you get down to the licence, you need to go through a course that gets you all the information you need to know. There are various courses available everywhere. You can pick on the one that is closest to you. Only after you are done with this course can you apply for the test and appear for it. On passing the test, you would be provided with the Personal Licence, which is the licence we were talking about.

The entire process of getting this involves first taking up the course, getting your criminal record checked, applying for the test and a few other formalities. You can opt to do them all yourself or hire a contractor who can do it all for you. He would pick out the best course for you and perform all the above mentioned tasks on your behalf. All you would be left with to do is go for the course, learn things there and appear for the test. Rest you be done for you.

Obtaining a personal licence is always beneficial. It would tell you whom should you sell alcohol to. The amount of alcohol that can be sold to a person at a time is also what you will come to know. One would come to know about the areas where he can sell alcohol on completing the course. He would also know that the price of the alcohol should be what the government has decided, or maybe the manufacturer in some cases. The test that is most commonly preferred by everyone is the BIIAB APLH (Award for Personal Licence Holder). Almost all the agents prefer this test too. You can find out the dates for the same through the agent.

If you decide to get the licence to sell alcohol through a contractor or agent, then you can find a lot of options online. Searching for an agent who deals in the same can get you a list of all of them. You can then pick out the one of your choice. But before you finalize a particular agent, make sure you open up all the details with him. Details like what all responsibilities will he take up for your licence, the fee that he would ask for, the amount of time it would take for the entire process and, the most important one, genuineness of the agent must be clear to you before you proceed with the deal.

Online source promise cheaper premises licence application

Alcohol, entertainment, loud music and late night refreshment sounds really good. But it is not so easy to get this everywhere. The authority allows to do this stuff till 11 pm and then if you are caught indulging in the same, a penalty is charged. The local cops of the area are on a round for a check in the entire area. But this doesn’t mean you’ll have to give up your fun. There are some events that are well enjoyed till late night.

So, the clubs, vendor’s who wish to sell alcohol, hot food, play loud music must have premises licence application. This application allows carrying out these forms without any nuisance. The shops or the pubs that are running late night from 11 pm to 5 am in morning have this application, and if anyone wishes to apply in future could take online assistance. There are many online sources that have been providing this service. You just have to follow few simple steps-

1. The foremost thing to be clear in mind is that this licence would allow supplying alcohol, play loud music, night entertainment, showing of films between 11 pm to 5am.
2. Second step is to apply for the application and in order to do so you must send your form to licensing authority. If you are applying for any other activity apart from supplying alcohol, then a simple application would be forwarded and if it’s for latter, there must be another form attached stating the personal holder of the permit. The service authority would accept the form if and only if a personal holder is present.
3. The third thing to be kept in mind is that the specification of the building should be given correctly including both internal and external walls. The measurement should include the perimeter of entrances and all the exits. If the premise is running more than one activity under the safe roof, it must apply for all the licensable activity. And if the owner is planning to make any changes or has already made changes in the boundary must give the specification of the raised level relative to floor. Apart from this the number of rooms, washrooms and kitchens ought to be mentioned in the form. These points are helpful in carrying out the plan easily and effectively.
4. For at least 1 month a notice must be displayed in regard of the application. It must be printed on A4 size paper and must be put over the walls or the roads connecting highway so that a random idea is given to people regarding the permit. The notice must include the details of the licensable activities that would be carried out in the premises. Apart from this, the same notice including the postal address of the building must be printed in the local newspaper and one copy must be presented to the service provider.

These steps get very simple if you follow footsteps of professional and hire online premises licence application service. Here they provide with economic service. You just have to bring the business to them and rest is done by them legally.

Premise Licence- A foremost Need of Liquor Trade

Every business that is indulged in the trade of alcohol is required to obtain a permit to sell the same. Not just this, the owner or the staff member must identify as the personal licence holder. This will make sure that the seller is authorized to sell the same legally. It enhances the reputation of the business as well.

The new licensing laws have introduced tight and strict rules and regulations regarding the sale and supply of alcohol. The whole process of premise licence is a bit costly and very time consuming sometimes. The most common way to obtain the permit, is to apply through local authorities who are well aware of the all the rules and regulations formulated under the Licensing Act 2003.

The training of the employees is not legally mandatory; however, to obtain a licence is must. A personal licence holder has to present all the time during the working hours. In the absence of the same person, no supply can be carried out for liquor. He must qualify all the requirements which are necessary to obtain the authorization. This increases the importance of the same and this cannot be ignored.

There are several online agencies as well, that has made this process easier and convenient.  They are no longer time consuming as they used to be earlier. On different web portals, there is enough information regarding the authorization trade and other services that can help and guide you in a better way. If anyone requires training for the same in order to obtain the licence can access the services and become qualified for the same. There is a lot of content available online for the same.

Anyone can acquire a complete premise licence holder training from online training services. This method is cost effective and flexible according to the individuals to give their final exams. This method of learning will not even disrupt the working of the business.

The certificate does not allow the person to sell or supply alcohol anywhere. It only allows for those areas from where the licensing authority has given the permission to supply liquor. To have an authorization increases the reputation and designation of the business.  It helps to increase the customer base as people will rely on the quality trade.

There are some conditions that need to be followed for getting the permit. The first condition is, the person applying for the same must be above eighteen years of age. He should not be convicted in the court of law for any crime or malpractice. He must possess accredited qualification. He should not be involved in any foreign offence.

If the person does not qualify any of the conditions, he is not allowed to obtain the licence. The police can object the application form, if it is necessary. The concerned authority will decide whether the person can apply for the licence or not. However, if all the conditions are satisfied by the applicant, he can obtain the permit.

Premise licence has become the prime necessity for the liquor traders and anyone who is found without the permit is not allowed to carry out the business, until or unless, an authority is not granted to him.

Alcohol Premises Licensing- An Authority to Sell Alcohol

alcohol premises license

Brand recognition is the success mantra to achieve heights and to take the business to the next level. The other important aspect is the customer base of the business. To have the same there are various efforts which are required to be made. Especially, if you are in the business of liquor, it becomes more difficult.

As per the 2003 Licensing Act, a person who wishes to sell alcohol, hot food or drinks after 11pm, or if he offers certain form of entertainment, is liable to obtain the alcohol premises license. The certificate can be obtained from the concerned authorities and by contacting the consultants. There are many firms which help to obtain the same. They manage to carry out the whole process and to give ease, so that one should not have to make much effort in getting the same. A personal consultant will allocate the permit application and will oversee the processing of the same from the beginning to the end. They help to make this painstaking process easier and smooth as they have years of experience and possess in depth knowledge about all the rules and regulations.

Like a driving license permits you to drive a car, this license system will allow the liquor businessmen to sell alcohol for consumption.  These people must hold this certificate to carry out the smooth trade of the same.  Anyone without a permit is not an authorized seller of liquor and hence he will not be allowed to process the business.

Once the permit is obtained the person is only allowed to sell the alcohol in those areas from where he has got the permission and he is allowed to sell the same from the alcohol premises license authority, rather than selling it anywhere. Any licensed premises that supply alcohol, must also have an identified person who is a authorize holder, he could be the owner of the business as well.

This act affects the one, who are carrying out the business of pubs, supermarkets, bars etc. The condition has bound them, as they have to make sure that there is always a person in the place who is a personal license holder and who can be easily identified at the office where the business is conducted. The same person will be liable or responsible for all day to day sales transactions of alcohol. It is not mandatory that whole of the staff should be licensed; however, one of the personnel is required to obtain the same as he has to make the supply of alcohol in different areas. If by any chance, the permit holder is not available in the office, then nobody is allowed or authorized to supply alcohol, until or unless there is someone in the staff who possess the permit.

The same generally expires after ten years and after the expiration, a person can renew it, if he has not been convicted ever in this time period. There is official qualification which one must have before applying for the alcohol premise license.  This is to ensure that the person has the knowledge about the laws and regulations and is aware about the social responsibilities of selling alcohol to public.