How to appoint a DPS and obtain a personal licence

To legally sell alcohol at your premises, you must name a specific individual as the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS). This person is the single point of contact for police and the council and must hold a valid Personal Licence. Without a DPS formally named on your Premises Licence, all alcohol sales must stop immediately.

First, what's the difference?

It’s easy to get confused between the two key terms, but the distinction is simple:

• A Personal Licence is a qualification held by an individual. It proves they have the training and authority to sell and authorise the sale of alcohol. It’s portable and belongs to them, regardless of where they work.
• The Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) is a role tied to a specific venue. This role must be filled by someone who holds a Personal Licence. Every business that sells alcohol must have a DPS.

How to get a Personal Licence and appoint a DPS

Step 1: Choose the right person for the role

The DPS is the person with primary responsibility for the sale of alcohol on the premises. While they don’t need to be on-site at all times, they are expected to be involved in the day-to-day management of the business. This is a position of significant responsibility, so you should choose a senior, trustworthy, and reliable person. This could be you as the owner, a general manager, or a senior duty manager.

Step 2: Get the qualification

Before anyone can apply for a Personal Licence, they must pass a formal qualification. This is to ensure they understand the law and their social responsibilities.

• The Qualification: The required course is the Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders (APLH).
• The Course: It's typically a one-day course available from many accredited providers across the UK. You can often do it online or in person.
• The Exam: The course finishes with a multiple-choice exam. The training provider will give you the official certificate once you pass.

Step 3: Apply for the Personal Licence

Once your chosen candidate has their APLH certificate, they can apply for their Personal Licence. This application is not sent to the council where the business is, but to the council where the applicant lives.

The application pack typically requires:

1. Application Form: The standard form provided by the local council.
2. APLH Certificate: The original certificate from the training provider.
3. Criminal Record Check: A basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check that is less than one month old. This is to declare any 'relevant' or 'foreign' offences.
4. Photographs: Two passport-sized photos, one of which must be endorsed by a professional person (like a solicitor or person of standing in the community) to verify the applicant's identity.
5. Application Fee: A small fee, payable to the council.

A note on criminal records: Certain unspent criminal convictions ('relevant offences') can prevent someone from getting a licence. If the applicant has a relevant offence, the police can object to the application, and the council will hold a hearing to decide whether to grant the licence.

Once granted, the Personal Licence is valid indefinitely, unless it is surrendered, suspended, or revoked.

Step 4: Formally appoint the DPS on your Premises Licence

Having a Personal Licence holder on your team is not enough. You must formally designate them as the DPS for your specific venue. This is done by having them sign a consent form which is then submitted to the council responsible for your business premises.

This step is usually done in one of two ways:

• As part of a New Premises Licence Application: If you are applying for your main Premises Licence for the first time, you will name and include the consent form for your chosen DPS in that application.
• As a 'Variation' to an Existing Licence: If your DPS leaves the business, you must apply to the council immediately to vary the licence and name a new one. You cannot sell alcohol until the new DPS is formally in place.

Key Tips

• What if my DPS leaves? You must inform the council and apply to specify a new DPS immediately. Failure to do so means you must stop all alcohol sales.
• Keep details updated: The Personal Licence holder must tell their issuing council if they change their name or address.
• Display a summary: A summary of your Premises Licence, including the name of your DPS, must be prominently displayed at your venue.